Jubaland State of Somalia | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
 Location of Jubaland | |
| Capital | Bu'ale (de jure)[1]Kismayo (de facto) |
| Largest city | Kismayo |
| Official languages | |
| Demonym(s) | Somali[2][3] |
| Government | Federated state under apresidential democracy |
• President | Ahmed Madobe |
• First Vice President[4] | Mohamud Sayid Aden |
• Second Vice President[4] | Suldan Abdulkadir Mohamed Lugadere |
| Federal Member State withinSomalia | |
| Area | |
• Total | 110,293 km2 (42,584 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | negligible |
| Population | |
• 2014 estimate | 3,360,633 |
| Currency | Somali shilling (SOS) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (not observed) |
| Calling code | +252(Somalia) |
| ISO 3166 code | SO |
| Internet TLD | .so |
Federal States in Somalia | |
Jubaland (Somali:Jubbaland;Arabic:جوبالاند;Italian:Oltregiuba), or theJuba Valley (Somali:Dooxada Jubba), is aFederal Member State in southernSomalia.Jubba River, stretching fromDolow to the Indian Ocean, while its western side flanks theNorth Eastern Province inKenya, which was carved out of Jubaland during thecolonial period.[5]
Jubaland has a total area of 110,293 km2 (42,584 sq mi). As of 2005, it had a total population of 953,045 inhabitants.[6][7] the largest cityKismayo, which is situated on the coast in the Indian Ocean.Bardhere,Luuq, andBeled Haawo are the region's other principal settlements. Other cities such asJamame andJilib are currently occupied byAl-Shabaab.
During the Middle Ages, the influential SomaliAjuran Sultanate held sway over the territory, followed in turn by theGeledi Sultanate. They were later incorporated intoBritish East Africa. In 1925, Jubaland wasceded to Italy, forming a part ofItalian Somaliland. On 1 July 1960, the region, along with the rest of Italian Somaliland andBritish Somaliland, became part of the independentSomali Republic.
During theMiddle Ages, the influential SomaliAjuran Empire held sway over the territory now known as Ajuran, followed in turn by theGeledi Sultanate during theearly modern period.[8] From 1836 until 1861, parts of Jubaland were nominally claimed by theSultanate of Muscat (now inOman).
TheGeledi Sultanate that controlled this entire region later joined theItalian Somalilandprotectorate after the Geledi ruler calledOsman Ahmed signed multiple treaties with the colonial Italians.
Jubaland was subsequently ceded toItaly in 1924–25, as a reward for the Italians having joined the Allies inWorld War I,[9] and had a brief existence as theItalian colony ofTrans-Juba (Oltre Giuba) under governor (16 July 1924 – 31 December 1926)Corrado Zoli (1877–1951). Italy issued its firstpostage stamps for the territory on 29 July 1925, consisting of contemporary Italian stampsoverprintedOltre Giuba (Trans-Juba). Britain retained control of the southern half of the partitioned Jubaland territory, which was later called theNorthern Frontier District (NFD).[5]
Britain wanted to give Jubaland toFascist Italy in exchange for returning theItalian Islands of the Aegean toGreece, butBenito Mussolini's government rejected thequid pro quo. After theCorfu incident, British Prime MinisterRamsay MacDonald decided to cede Jubaland unconditionally to theItalian colonial empire.[10] Jubaland was then incorporated into neighbouringItalian Somaliland on 30 June 1926. The boundary with Kenya was settled by the Jubaland Commission and the Jubaland Boundary Commission.[11]
During the post-independence period, one particularly significant historical event was the series of internal migrations into the Jubba regions by Somalis from other parts of the country.
Between 1974 and 1975, a major drought referred to as theAbaartii Dabadheer ("The Lingering Drought") affected the northern regions of Somalia. TheSoviet Union, which at the time maintained strategic relations with theSiad Barre government, airlifted some 90,000 people from the devastated regions ofHobyo andCaynaba. New small settlements referred to asDanwadaagaha ("Collective Settlements") were then created in theJubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba) andJubbada Dhexe (Middle Jubba) regions. The transplanted families were also introduced to farming and fishing techniques, a change from their traditional pastoralist lifestyle of livestock herding.
By the late 1980s, themoral authority of Barre's government had collapsed. Many Somalis had become disillusioned with life under military dictatorship. The government became increasinglytotalitarian, andresistance movements, encouraged by Ethiopia, sprang up across the country, eventually leading to theSomali Civil War and Barre's ouster.
Following the ensuing breakdown of central authority, GeneralMohammed Said Hersi "Morgan", Barre's son-in-law and former Minister of Defence, briefly declared Jubaland independent on 3 September 1998.[12] Political opponents of General Morgan subsequently united as theAllied Somali Forces (ASF), seizing control of Kismayo by June of the following year.[13]
Led by ColonelBarre Adan Shire Hiiraale, the ASF administration renamed itself theJuba Valley Alliance in 2001.[14] On 18 June of that year, an 11-member inter-clan council decided to ally the JVA with the newly formingTransitional Federal Government.[15]
In 2006, theIslamic Courts Union (ICU), anIslamist organization, assumed control of much of Jubaland and other parts of southern Somalia and promptly imposedSharia law. The Transitional Federal Government sought to re-establish its authority, and, with the assistance ofEthiopian troops,African Union peacekeepers and air support by the United States, managed to drive out the rival ICU and solidify its rule.[16]
TheBattle of Ras Kamboni took place on 8 January 2007. Afterwards, the TFG then relocated toVilla Somalia in the capital from its interim location inBaidoa. This marked the first time since the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991 that the federal government controlled most of the country.[17]
Following this defeat, the Islamic Courts Union splintered into several different factions. Some of the more radical elements, includingAl-Shabaab, regrouped to continue their insurgency against the TFG and oppose theEthiopian National Defence Force's presence in Somalia. Throughout 2007 and 2008, Al-Shabaab scored military victories, seizing control of key towns and ports in both central and southern Somalia. At the end of 2008, the group had capturedBaidoa but not Mogadishu. By January 2009, Al-Shabaab and other militias had managed to force the Ethiopian troops to retreat, leaving behind an under-equippedAfrican Union peacekeeping force to assist the Transitional Federal Government's troops.[18]
Following theKenyan military entry into Somalia in 2011, President of SomaliaSharif Ahmed initially expressed reservations about the deployment of Kenyan troops for what a BBC correspondent suggested was his opposition to the notion of Kenya's involvement in the Jubaland initiative.[19] However, the Somalian and Kenyan governments later jointly issued a communique formally pledging coordinated military, political and diplomatic support for the mission,[20] and specifying that the operation would officially be Somalia-led.[21]
The new president ofSomalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and his government, declared the formation of Jubaland and its process 'unconstitutional' and urged the process to be delayed until the parliament establishes laws and territorial boundaries of proposed regional states within Federal Somalia. This was rejected by the organisers of the Jubaland conference.[22]
Talks aimed at brokering an agreement between the Marehan and Ogaden as well as many smaller clans, began afterOperation Linda Nchi started in October 2011. (ICG 2013) On 28 February 2013, more than 500 delegates convened in Kismayo to attend the opening of a conference, which would discuss and plan the proposed formation of Jubaland.[23] A 32-strong technical committee chaired by Ma'alin Mohamed Ibrahim, the deputy of theRaskamboni movement, was established along with several sub-committees whose purpose was to oversee the process.[24] The conference was attended by several high-profile politicians, including Professor Mohamed Abdi Mohamed (Gandhi) and former TFG Prime MinisterOmar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke.[25]
On 2 April 2013, delegates at Kismayo conference were presented with a draft provisional constitution, which they overwhelming approved.[26] On 15 May 2013, an overwhelming majority of 500 delegates electedAhmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) as the President of Jubaland.[27]
On 28 August 2013, the autonomous Jubaland administration signed a national reconciliation agreement inAddis Ababa with theSomali federal government. Endorsed by the federal State Minister for the Presidency Farah Abdulkadir on behalf of PresidentHassan Sheikh Mohamud, the pact was brokered by the Foreign Ministry ofEthiopia and came after protracted bilateral talks. Under the terms of the agreement, Jubaland will be administered for a two-year period by a Juba Interim Administration and led by the region's incumbent president, Ahmed Mohamed Islam. The regional president will serve as the chairperson of a new Executive Council, to which he will appoint three deputies. Management of Kismayo's seaport and airport will also be transferred to the Federal Government after a period of six months, and revenues and resources generated from these infrastructures will be earmarked for Jubaland's service delivery and security sectors as well as local institutional development. The parties agreed to integrate Jubaland's military forces into theSomali National Army, and stipulated that the Juba Interim Administration will command the regional police.[28][29] UN Special Envoy to SomaliaNicholas Kay hailed the pact as "a breakthrough that unlocks the door for a better future for Somalia,"[30] with AUC, UN, EU and IGAD representatives also present at the signing.[29]
On 16 September 2014, President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud officially opened a reconciliation conference in Kismayo. The summit was aimed at Jubaland's Lower Juba, Middle Juba and Gedo constituencies, and was attended by delegates from across the nation and abroad.[31]
On 30 December 2014, Jubaland PresidentAhmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) andSouth West State PresidentSharif Hassan Sheikh Adan signed a 4-point Memorandum of Understanding on federalization, security, the 2016 general elections, trade, and the constitution. The bilateral accord was signed in the presence of representatives from the two regional states, including politicians, traditional leaders and civil society activists. Among the clauses of the accord were equitable allocation of international assistance by the federal authorities, agreeing on pre-civil war boundaries and regional demarcations established by the military government, and recommending that the federal authorities both delegate powers to regional bodies and adopt a No Objection Policy. Additionally, the memorandum stipulates that the two regional states will form a security committee consisting of representatives from both administrations, which will facilitate launching joint counterinsurgency operations, extradition, and expertise and intelligence sharing. The two administrations also proposed the creation of an interstate commission to liaise between the federal government and constituent regional states. They likewise indicated that their respective Chambers of Commerce would buttress commercial exchanges and cross-border trade.[32]
In February 2015, the Interim Juba Administration began a selection process for the members of the new regional parliament. Following consultations with local stakeholders, the lawmakers were slated to be nominated by intellectuals in conjunction with traditional elders.[33] The legislative selection process was drawn from all of the regional state's constituent districts.[34] On 15 April 2015, a new 75-seat chamber of Jubaland parliament was inaugurated at an official ceremony at the presidential palace inKismayo. Federal lawmaker Sheikh Abdi Yusuf was therein elected as interim speaker, and 75 MPs were sworn into the new regional legislature.[35] On 7 May 2015, an inauguration ceremony was held in Kismayo for the Jubaland administration's first regional parliament. The event was attended by President of SomaliaHassan Sheikh Mohamud, Vice President of PuntlandAbdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar, Foreign Minister of KenyaAmina Mohamed, Foreign Minister of EthiopiaTedros Adhanom, IGAD Executive SecretaryMahboub Maalim, IGAD Envoy to Somalia AmbassadorMohamed Abdi Afey, and other international representatives.[36]
On 20 May 2015, Jubaland's newly formed regional cabinet had its first reshuffle, with Minister for Water and Mineral Resources Abdinoor Adan transferred to Minister for Information and former Minister for Finance Mohamed Aw-Yussuf filling his previous docket. Former Minister for Information Ibrahim Bajuun was also appointed as the Minister for Finance.[37]
On 25 November 2024, Jubaland's President Madobe was elected to a third term in regional elections. On 28 November, Somalia claimed that the regional election had been held without federal involvement. Somalia and Jubaland issued warrants accusing each other's presidents of treason, and Jubaland suspended relations with the federal government.[38][39] On 12 December, Somalia pulled its troops out of Jubaland afterclashes with local forces, in which Jubaland claimed victory.[40]
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Jubaland has a total border length of approximately 1,500 km (930 miles). This total includes both land borders with neighboring regions and countries, as well as the coastline along theIndian Ocean.
In February 2019, Kenyan officials have alleged that Somalia is engaged in an inappropriate auctioning of drilling rights along the African coast of the Ocean off Jubaland. The International Court of Arbitration has scheduled procedures for September 2019 concerning maritime territorial waters, which Somali sources indicate is being pre-empted by the Kenyan officials. Kenya demanded Somalia to abandon its ICJ case for bilateral discussion. Somalia sees this as delaying tactics as discussion did not produce results between 2009 and 2014. Kenya gave mining rights to France and Italian companies in 2009, however, accused Somalia of doing the same. Somalia denied the accusation. Somalia won the majority of their case off the Jubaland coast on the maritime dispute in 2020 at the ICJ (International Court of Justice).[41]
Jubaland has a total population of around 2.5 million inhabitants with the majority hailing from the Somali people.[6][42]
Air transportation in Jubaland is served by a number ofairports.These include
TheBardera Airport (IATA:BSY,ICAO:HCMD) is anairport servingBardera, a city in JubalandSomalia. The airport resides at anelevation of 550 feet (168 m) abovemean sea level. It has onerunway designated 15/33 with a compactedsand surface measuring 1,300 by 30 metres (4,265 ft × 98 ft).
Garbaharey Airport (IATA: GBM) is an airport serving Garbaharey in Jubaland. The airport has one runway which is 1,050 metres (3,445 ft) long.
Lugh Ganane Airport (IATA:LGX,ICAO:HCMJ) is an airport servingLuuq, Jubaland,Somalia. The airport has one runway which is 1,120 metres (3,675 ft) long.
Kismayo Airport (IATA: KMU, ICAO: HCMK), also known as Kisimayu Airport, is an airport serving Kismayo in Jubaland Somalia.
The airport resides at an elevation of 49 feet (15 m) abovemean sea level. It has oneasphalt pavedrunway designated 05/23 which is 3,688 metres (12,100 ft) long.
| District | Population (2023 Approximations) |
|---|---|
| Bardere | 470,000 |
| Kismayo | 630,708 |
| Jamame | 104,571 |
| Dolow | 101,519 |
| Elwak | 151,773 |
| Badhadhe | 83,729 |
| Bu'ale | 70,209 |
| Baladhawo | 100,635 |
| Luuq | 286,402 |
| Jilib | 121,894 |
| Sakow | 45,454 |
| Burdhubo | 111,550 |
| Afmadow | 109,954 |
| Garbaharey | 167,252 |
| Dhobley | 41,973 |
| Buraa | 58,779 |
| El Adde | 55,469 |
Solidarity Group of Jubbaland (SGJ), is a local grassroots development organisation in Jubaland.[43] Death fromhunger is a recurrent issue in Jubaland, including in 2017[44] and 2021.[45][46] In 2022Adar Ismail Jurati led a consultative meeting with government officials and people who performfemale gential mutilation (FGM) with a view to stopping the practice in theKismayo area.[47]
Local dances of Jubaland include theSaar.[48]
| Federal member states (Federalist/unionist states) | |
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| Proposed federal member states | |
| Islamist Jamaats | |
| Former state entities |
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| Former Islamist administrations |
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