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 Somalia portal |
AsSomalia is officially afederal republic, the country is divided intoseven federal member states,[1]18 administrative regions (gobollo, singulargobol),[2] and72 districts. (pluraldegmooyin; singulardegmo)
TheFederal Parliament is tasked with selecting the ultimate number and boundaries of autonomous regional states within the Federal Republic of Somalia.[3][4] To this end, the legislature in December 2014 passed a law establishing the Boundary and Federalization Commission.[5] The body is mandated with determining the boundaries of the country's constituent states, as well as arbitrating between these states.[6]
In November 2014, theSouth West State of Somalia was established.[7]Hirshabelle State was formed in October 2016.[8]Khatumo State in the north central region was recognized in 2023 and superseded byNorth Eastern State of Somalia in 2025.
Somalia is officially divided into seven federal member states. Somalia considersSomaliland (who unilaterally proclaimed independence in 1991 andremains claimed but uncontrolled[9][8][1]) to still be a part of the country as a federal member state.
Banaadir (also called the Banaadir Regional Administration, or BRA) covers the area of the capital cityMogadishu, and does not belong to any federal member states.
Thepresident of Somalia,Mohamed Siad Barre who established the regions ofMiddle Juba,Lower Juba,Gedo,Bay, andBakool[10] between 1974-1975 due to biases towards clans,Banaadir shrank to only consist ofMogadishu.[11]
| Region | Capital city | Population (2025 estimate)[12] | Location | Districts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awdal Region | Borama | 655,894 | Northwestern | |
| Bakool Region | Hudur | 560,267 | Southern | |
| Banaadir Region[a] | Mogadishu | 3,262,129 | Central | |
| Bari Region | Bosaso | 1,270,552 | Northeastern | |
| Bay Region | Baidoa | 1,286,787 | Southern | |
| Galguduud Region | Dhusamareb | 837,916 | Central | |
| Gedo Region | Garbahaarreey | 1,005,924 | Southern | |
| Hiiraan Region | Beledweyn | 520,517 | Central | |
| Lower Juba Region | Kismayo | 1,194,276 | Southern | |
| Lower Shabelle Region | Merca | 1,642,667 | Central | |
| Middle Juba Region | Bu'ale | 443,507 | Southern | |
| Middle Shabelle Region | Jowhar | 1,044,872 | Central | |
| Mudug Region | Galkayo | 1,516,035 | Southern | |
| Nugaal Region | Garowe | 651,464 | North Eastern | |
| Sanaag Region | Erigavo | 442,034 | Northern | |
| Sool Region | Las Anod | 566,053 | Northern | |
| Togdheer Region | Burao | 887,450 | Northern | |
| Woqooyi Galbeed Region | Hargeisa | 1,492,506 | Northwestern |
In 1931,Italian Somaliland consisted of seven commissariats.[13]
Following the 1935–36Second Italo-Abyssinian War, Italian Somaliland became part ofItalian East Africa withAbyssinia (Ethiopia) andEritrea. Italian Somaliland was one of sixgovernorates of the new colony, theSomalia Governorate, and incorporatedSomali-inhabited parts of the former Abyssinia. The governorate was subdivided into 10 commissariats, which were themselves divided into residencies.
Following World War II, the Italian-administeredTrust Territory of Somalia consisted of six Regions.[13]
TheBritish Somalilandprotectorate also consisted of two Regions.[13]
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Upon independence in 1960, the Somali Republic maintained the 12 districts of the former Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland that merged to form the new country.[13] In 1964, a new Northeastern (Burao) Province was established by merging Burao, Erigavo, and Las Anod and a Northwestern (Hargeisa) Province was formed from Berbera, Borama, and Hargeisa districts.[13] In 1968, the capital of Basso Giuba was moved from Kismayo toJamame. The 8 provinces at this time were:[13]
| Province | Area(km2) | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Benadir | 45,004 | Mogadishu |
| Burao | 128,000 | Burao |
| Hargeisa | 48,000 | Hargeisa |
| Hiran | 25,647 | Beled Weyne |
| Lower Juba | 49,917 | Jamame |
| Bosaso | 90,744 | Bosaso (Bender Cassim) |
| Mudug | 118,737 | Galkayo |
| Upper Juba | 131,492 | Baidoa |
In 1982, Somalia reorganized from eight provinces into 16 regions.[13] In June 1984, Awdal was split from Woqooyi Galbeed and Sool was split from Nugaal to form the current 18 regions.[13]
After theTransitional Federal Government of Somalia was instillated, some divisions of Somalia tried to be either a state or region. These said divisions were as follows:
| Federal member states (Federalist/unionist states) | |
|---|---|
| De facto independent states | |
| Islamist Jamaats | |
| Former state entities |
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| Former Islamist administrations |
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