Somali Region

What is now the Somali Region was part of the conquests of Menelik II in the late 19th century.

The Somali Region formed a large part of the pre-1995 provinces of Hararghe, Bale and Sidamo. The population is predominantly Somali, and there have been attempts to incorporate the area into a Greater Somalia. In the 1977, Somalia invaded Ethiopia, igniting the Ogaden War, which Somalia lost due to timely military intervention from the Soviet Union and its ally Cuba. Despite this defeat, local groups still tried either to become part of Somalia or independent.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}{{Cite journal |title=CIA, Talking Points on Soviet/Cuban Involvement in Ethiopia, March 17, 1978, Secret. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/ejb9789004244627.b09073 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Cold War Intelligence|doi=10.1163/ejb9789004244627.b09073 }}

The 2007 Abole oil field raid, in which 72 Chinese and Ethiopian oilfield workers were killed, has led to a series of military reprisals against the rebel group ONLF Ogaden National Liberation Front.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Until its first-ever district elections in February 2004, Zonal and woreda administrators and village chairmen were appointed by the Regional government. Senior politicians at the Regional level nominated their clients to the local government positions. In the 2004 local elections, each woreda elected a council including a spokesman, vice-spokesman, administrator, and vice-administrator. These councils have the responsibility of managing budgets and development activities within their respective districts.Tobias Hagmann, Mohamud H. Khalif: [http://tobiashagmann.freeflux.net/files/media/publications/non-refereed/hagmann_mhk_bildhaan-2006.pdf "State and Politics in Ethiopia's Somali region since 1991", Bildhaan: the International Journal of Somali Studies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831063758/http://tobiashagmann.freeflux.net/files/media/publications/non-refereed/hagmann_mhk_bildhaan-2006.pdf |date=2011-08-31 }}, 6 (2006), p. 33

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), the Somali Region has a total population of 4,439,147, consisting of 2,468,784 men and 1,970,363 women; urban residents numbered 621,210 or 14% of the population, while rural residents numbered 3,817,937.{{cite web|title=Table 2.2 Percentage Distribution of Major Ethnic Groups: 2007|page=16|url=http://www.csa.gov.et/pdf/Cen2007_firstdraft.pdf|work=Summary and Statistical Report of the 2007 Population and Housing Census Results|publisher=United Nations Population Fund|access-date=21 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325050115/http://www.csa.gov.et/pdf/Cen2007_firstdraft.pdf | archive-date=25 March 2009 |author=Central Statistical Agency, Ethiopia}} With an estimated area of 327,068 square kilometers, this region has an estimated density of 20.9 people per square kilometer. For the entire region 1, 685,986 households were counted, which results in an average for the Region of 6.8 persons to a household, with urban households having on average 6 and rural households 6.5 people.

There are 8 refugee camps and 1 transit center, housing 212,967 refugees from Somalia, located in Somali Region.

In the previous census, conducted in 1994, the region's population was reported to be 3,383,165, of which Somalis made up 3,236,667. There were 1,846,417 were males and 1,537,748 were females. The urban residents of the Somali Region numbered 492,710 households, with an average of 6.6 persons per household; a high sex ratio of 120 males to 100 females was reported.The 1994 National Census was delayed in the Somali Region until 1997. The Census did not cover all parts of the Region, namely rural kebeles in the following Zones: Shinile, Fiq, Gode, and Afder. [http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/index.html The 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Somali Region, vol.1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207032949/http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/index.html |date=2008-12-07 }}, Chapter 2 "Population size and characteristics" As of 1997, the ethnic composition of the Region was 99.01% Somali, 0.30% Amhara, 0.5% Oromo; all other ethnic groups made up 0.2% of the population.1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Somali Region, Vol. 1] {{Cite web |url=http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck05%5Ck05.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-03-23 |archive-date=2008-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119230720/http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck05%5Ck05.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }} Tables 2.4, 2.14 (accessed 10 January 2009).

According to the CSA, {{as of|2004|lc=on}}, 38.98% of the total population had access to safe drinking water, of whom 21.32% were rural inhabitants and 77.21% were urban.[http://www.csa.gov.et/pdf/Basic_welfare_Indicator/Households%20by%20sources%20of%20drinking%20water.pdf "Households by sources of drinking water, safe water sources"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118223239/http://www.csa.gov.et/pdf/Basic_welfare_Indicator/Households%20by%20sources%20of%20drinking%20water.pdf |date=2008-11-18 }} CSA Selected Basic Welfare Indicators (accessed 28 January 2009) Values for other reported common indicators of the standard of living for Somali {{as of|2005|lc=on}} include the following: 71.8% of the inhabitants fall into the lowest wealth quintile; adult literacy for men is 22% and for women 9.8%; and the Regional infant mortality rate is 57 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, which is less than the nationwide average of 77; at least half of these deaths occurred in the infants’ first month of life.{{Cite web|last=Development|first=U. S. Agency for International|title=U.S. Agency for International Development|url=http://www.usaid.gov/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20000815070243/https://www.usaid.gov/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 August 2000|access-date=2022-02-19|website=USAID|language=en}}

The region is home to almost all major Somali clan families with the majority being from the Ogaden tribe of Darod comprising a whooping 65% of the total population.{{Citation |last=Vaughan |first=Sarah |title=Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Ogaden: Still a Running Sore at the Heart of the Horn of Africa |date=2019 |work=Secessionism in African Politics: Aspiration, Grievance, Performance, Disenchantment |pages=91–123 |editor-last=de Vries |editor-first=Lotje |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-90206-7_4 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |isbn=978-3-319-90206-7 |editor2-last=Englebert |editor2-first=Pierre |editor3-last=Schomerus |editor3-first=Mareike}} Except for Liben and Sitti, the Ogaden clan have a majority presence in all other nine zones.{{Citation |last=Vaughan |first=Sarah |title=Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Ogaden: Still a Running Sore at the Heart of the Horn of Africa |date=2019 |work=Secessionism in African Politics: Aspiration, Grievance, Performance, Disenchantment |pages=91–123 |editor-last=de Vries |editor-first=Lotje |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-90206-7_4 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |isbn=978-3-319-90206-7 |editor2-last=Englebert |editor2-first=Pierre |editor3-last=Schomerus |editor3-first=Mareike}} Various subclans of the Darod clan family primarily inhabit the central and eastern parts of the region, with the Ogaden and Jidwaq inhabiting the interior as well as the major towns of Jijiga, Gode, Kebridehar. The Harti as well as the Leelkase clans inhabit the Dollo zone where they are a minority while the Marehan clan inhabit the Shilavo woreda and the Liben zone.{{Cite web |title=Changing Pastoralism in Region 5 |url=https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Hornet/past0698.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010194046/https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Hornet/past0698.html |archive-date=2021-10-10 |access-date=2021-04-22 |website=www.africa.upenn.edu}}

The Akisho clan, Issa, Gadabuursi and Jaarso subclans of the Dir primarily inhabit the northern Sitti zone, Awbare and Gursum woreda in Fafan zone.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RaAaAQAAMAAJ&q=Gadabursi%20Sociology%20Ethnology%20Bulletin%20of%20Addis%20Ababa%20University|year=1994|df=dmy-all|quote=Different aid groups were also set up to help communities cope in the predominantly Gadabursi district of Aw Bare.|title=Sociology Ethnology Bulletin|access-date=2021-08-23|archive-date=2022-02-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219211113/https://books.google.com/books?id=RaAaAQAAMAAJ&q=Gadabursi|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/408504136/Theoretical-and-Practical-Conflict-Rehabilitation-in-the-Somali-Region-of-Ethiopia%20Theoretical%20and%20Practical%20Conflict%20Rehabilitation%20in%20the%20Somali%20Region%20of%20Ethiopia|year=2018–2019|page=8|format=PDF|df=dmy-all|quote=The Gadabursi, who dominate the adjacent Awbare district north of Jijiga and bordering with the Awdal Region of Somaliland, have opened the already existing camps of Derwanache and Teferi Ber to these two communities.|title=Theoretical and Practical Conflict Rehabilitation in the Somali Region of Ethiopia | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees | Refugee|access-date=2021-07-02|archive-date=2021-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426141420/https://www.scribd.com/document/408504136/Theoretical-and-Practical-Conflict-Rehabilitation-in-the-Somali-Region-of-Ethiopia|url-status=live}}

The Habr Awal, Garhajis, Arap and Habr Je'lo clans of the Isaaq clan family inhabit the northern part of the region bordering Somaliland. The Sacad Muse subclan of the Habr Awal have large settlements in the Fafan Zone where they respectively make up in Harshin, Hart Sheik, and Wajaale (Ethiopian Side) towns. The Arap inhabit Fafan and also settle and border Kebri Beyah. The Garhajis and Habr Je'lo make up the majority in the Awaare and Misrak Gashamo woredas in Jarar Zone.

Degodia are the majority in Liben Zone and also have a significant presence in neighbouring regions. The Karanle and Sheekhaal clans are present in the western areas bordering the Oromia region and the Hawadle and Habar Gidir subclans are present in the Shabelle zone. The closely related Samaale subclan of Garre are also present in the Liben zone and Dawa zone where they make up the majority.

Somali as a primary language is spoken by 95.89% of the inhabitants. All other languages spoken together make up 4.11%.1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Somali Region, Vol. 1] {{Cite web |url=http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck05%5Ck05.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-03-23 |archive-date=2008-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119230720/http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck05%5Ck05.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }} Tables 2.4, 2.14 (accessed 10 January 2009).{{Cite book|last=Carruth|first=Lauren|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctv1gbrwvc|title=Love and Liberation: Humanitarian Work in Ethiopia's Somali Region|date=2021|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=978-1-5017-5966-6|jstor=10.7591/j.ctv1gbrwvc}}

99.74% of the population are Muslim, All other religions together made up 0.26%.1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Somali Region, Vol. 1] {{Cite web |url=http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck05%5Ck05.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-03-23 |archive-date=2008-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119230720/http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck05%5Ck05.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }} Tables 2.4, 2.14 (accessed 10 January 2009).[http://www.ethiopar.net/English/basinfo/infosoml.htm FDRE States: Basic Information - Somalia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050522011421/http://www.ethiopar.net/English/basinfo/infosoml.htm |date=2005-05-22 }}, Population (accessed 12 March 2006)[http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=274&format=raw&Itemid=521 " Census 2007 Tables: Somali Region"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310154358/http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=274&format=raw&Itemid=521 |date=2012-03-10 }}, Tables 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4

File:Somregcammil.jpg

The CSA of Ethiopia estimated in 2005 that farmers in the Somali Region had a total of 2,459,720 cattle (representing 15.19%% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 2,463,000 sheep (27.66%), 3,650,970 goats (60.02%), 1,991,550 donkeys (42.66%), 5,3165,260 camels (96.2%), 154,670 poultry of all species (0.5%), and 5,330 beehives (0.12%). For nomadic inhabitants, the CSA provided two sets of estimates, one based on aerial surveys and the other on more conventional methodology:[http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/National%20statistics/national%20statistics%202005/Agriculture.pdf "CSA 2005 National Statistics"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118225214/http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/National%20statistics/national%20statistics%202005/Agriculture.pdf |date=2008-11-18 }}, Tables D.4 – D.7.

West from Addis Ababa, Awash 572 km via Harar and Jijiga to Degehabur

Somali Regional State has 3 international airport and 2 commercial airports. The international airports are Jijiga Airport, Gode Airport, and Kabri Dar Airport, The 2 commercial airports are Dolo Airport, and Shilavo Airport.

The executive branch is headed by the Chief Administrator of Somali Regional State. The current Chief Administrator is Mustafa Muhummed Omer (Cagjar), elected on 22 August 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Ethiopia_Regions.html|title=Ethiopia Administrative Divisions|last=Ben|first=Cahoon|website=World Statesman|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004225457/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Ethiopia_Regions.html|url-status=live}} A Vice President of Somali Region succeeds the president in the event of any removal from office, and performs any duties assigned by the president. The current vice president is Adam Farah Ibrahim. The other offices in the executive branch cabinet are the Regional Health Bureau, Educational Bureau, and 18 other officials.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ena.gov.et/en/index.php/politics/item/2316-amhara-region-announces-appointment-of-22-cabinet-members|title=Amhara Region Announces Appointment of 22 Cabinet Members|date=23 November 2016|work=Ethiopian News Agency|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305063950/http://www.ena.gov.et/en/index.php/politics/item/2316-amhara-region-announces-appointment-of-22-cabinet-members|archive-date=2018-03-05|url-status=dead}}

There are three levels of the Somali region judiciary. The lowest level is the court of common pleas: each woreda maintains its own constitutionally mandated court of common pleas, which maintain jurisdiction over all justiciable matters. The intermediate-level court system is the district court system. Four courts of appeals exist, each retaining jurisdiction over appeals from common pleas, municipal, and county courts in an administrative zone. A case heard in this system is decided by a three-judge panel, and each judge is elected.

The highest-ranking court, the Somali Supreme Court, is Somali's "court of last resort". A Seven-justice panel composes the court, which, by its own discretion, hears appeals from the courts of appeals, and retains original jurisdiction over limited matters. The chief judge is called the Chief of Soamli Supreme Court Abdullahi Saed Omar.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jfapfe.org/News1.html|title=MOU Signing ceremony With Federal and Regional Supreme Courts of Ethiopia to Facilitate Support for Clearance of Backlog Files|date=14 August 2015|website=Justice For All-PF Ethiopia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105024748/http://www.jfapfe.org/News1.html|archive-date=5 November 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=8 July 2017|df=dmy-all}}

The State Council, which is the highest administrative body of the state, is made up of 269 members.{{Cite book|title=Political Handbook of the World 2015|last=Lansford|first=Tom|publisher=CQ Press|year=2015|isbn=978-1483371559|location=Washington, D.C., United States|pages=[https://archive.org/details/politicalhandboo0000unse_f0m6/page/492 492]|url=https://archive.org/details/politicalhandboo0000unse_f0m6/page/492}}

Somali is represented by

• 6 representatives in The House of Federation (upper chamber) and
• 24 representatives in The House of Peoples' Representatives (lower chamber)

File:Somali region map Ethiopia.pngFile:Somali region.jpgLike other Regions in Ethiopia, Somali Region is subdivided into eleven administrative zones and Six Special administrative zones:{{cite web |url=http://reliefweb.int/map/ethiopia/ethiopia-somali-region-administrative-map-05-jan-2015 |title=Ethiopia: Somali Region Administrative map (as of 05 Jan 2015) |publisher=OCHA |date=5 January 2015 |access-date=5 November 2017 |archive-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219211049/https://reliefweb.int/map/ethiopia/ethiopia-somali-region-administrative-map-05-jan-2015 |url-status=live }}

• Afder Zone
• Dollo Zone (formerly Warder)
• Erer Zone
• Fafan Zone (formerly Jigjiga)
• Jarar Zone (formerly Degehabur)
• Korahe Zone
• Liben Zone
• Dhawa Zone
• Nogob Zone (formerly Fiq)
• Shabelle Zone (formerly Godey)
• Sitti Zone (formerly Shinile)
• Degehabur Special Zone (special zone)
• Gode Special Zone (special zone)
• Harawo Special Zone (special zone)
• Kebri Beyah Special Zone (special zone)
• Tog Wajale Special Zone (special zone)

The zones are themselves subdivided into districts.

• Ogaden (clan)
• Jidwaq (clan)
• Afar–Somali clashes
• List of airports in Ethiopia
• somali

{{Reflist|30em}}

• Tobias Hagmann, "Beyond clannishness and colonialism: understanding political disorder in Ethiopia's Somali Region, 1991–2004", Journal of Modern African Studies, 43 (2005), 509–536.
• Abdi Ismail Samatar (2004): "Ethiopian Federalism: Autonomy versus Control in the Somali Region". Third World Quarterly, Vol. 25/6
• John Markakis (1996): "The Somali in Ethiopia". Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 23, No. 70, pp. 567–570
• John Markakis (1994): "Briefing: Somalia in the New Political Order of Ethiopia". Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 21, No. 59 pp. 71–79

• [http://ochaonline.un.org/OchaLinkClick.aspx?link=ocha&docId=1310782 Map of Somali Region at UN-OCHA]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090305231248/http://www.dppc.gov.et/downloadable/map/administrative/Atlas_Somali.pdf Map of Somali Region at DPPA of Ethiopia] (PDF file)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100603032918/http://www.ethiopar.net/type/English/hopre/hormemb.html#5 List of Ogaden-Somali Members of Ethiopian Parliament]
• [https://archive.today/20121205011834/http://www.somalistate.com/ Official Website of Ogaden-Somali region of Ethiopia]
• [https://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=46953&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=ETHIOPIA "Ethiopia: Rains pound Somali region as death toll rises" – UN IRIN]
• [https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=14150 "Floods plague Horn of Africa, wash away refugee shelters" – UN News]

{{First-level administrative divisions of Ethiopia}}

{{Districts of the Somali Region}}{{Portal bar|Ethiopia|Geography|Africa}}{{Somali Plate}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|7.4387305|N|44.2968750|E|source:nlwiki_region:ET_scale:3200000|format=dms|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Somalia Region}}

Category:1994 establishments in Ethiopia

Category:Regions of Ethiopia

Category:Countries and territories where Somali is an official language

Category:States and territories established in 1992