Awdal
Encyclopedia
Awdal is a region (gobolka) in northwestern Somalia
. Its capital is Borama.
Awdal is bordered by Ethiopia
, Djibouti
, the Somali region of Woqooyi Galbeed
, and the Gulf of Aden
. The westernmost point of the province is Beyu Anod, a peak of the Marmar Range.
Control of the region is disputed between Awdalland
, a proposed autonomous state, and Somaliland
, a self-declared independent republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.
, whose power rose in the 16th century. The area along the Ethiopian border is abundant with ruined cities, which were described by the British explorer Richard F. Burton.
A modern separatist movement, known as the Awdal Republic, sought independence in 1995 after the ouster of Mohamed Siad Barre's regime. A Dir
-dominated movement in Awdal province also threatens to form its own administration if the secessionist Somaliland region's self-declared independence is officially recognized.
from the Gadabuursi
and Issa
sub-divisions of the Dir
clan.
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. Its capital is Borama.
Awdal is bordered by Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, the Somali region of Woqooyi Galbeed
Woqooyi Galbeed
Woqooyi Galbeed, also known as Maroodi Jeex, is an administrative region in northwestern Somalia. It lies in the territory of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia....
, and the Gulf of Aden
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide....
. The westernmost point of the province is Beyu Anod, a peak of the Marmar Range.
Control of the region is disputed between Awdalland
Awdalland
Awdalland is a region in northwestern Somalia. Centered on Borama in the Awdal province, its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 2010.-History:...
, a proposed autonomous state, and Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
, a self-declared independent republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.
Overview
Awdal (also spelled Adal or Adel) takes its name from an ancient empire, the Adal SultanateAdal Sultanate
The Adal Sultanate or the Kingdom of Adal was a medieval multi-ethnic Muslim state located in the Horn of Africa.-Overview:...
, whose power rose in the 16th century. The area along the Ethiopian border is abundant with ruined cities, which were described by the British explorer Richard F. Burton.
A modern separatist movement, known as the Awdal Republic, sought independence in 1995 after the ouster of Mohamed Siad Barre's regime. A Dir
Dir (clan)
The Dir , or Theyr bin Abdalla as mentioned in the book "Futuh al-Habasha", is a Somali clan. Its members mostly live in northwestern Somalia and Djibouti, in addition to southern and central Somalia and the Ogaden....
-dominated movement in Awdal province also threatens to form its own administration if the secessionist Somaliland region's self-declared independence is officially recognized.
Demographics
Awdal is primarily inhabited by SomalisSomali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
from the Gadabuursi
Gadabuursi
The Gadabuursi , also known as Samaroon, is a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir.Most Gadabuursi members are descendants of Sheikh Samaroon...
and Issa
Issa (clan)
The Issa are a Somali clan, a sub-clan of the Dir. The Issa primarily reside in Djibouti, the extreme northwestern fringe in the Awdal district of Somaliland in northern Somalia, as well as the Shinile Zone located in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.-Lineage:...
sub-divisions of the Dir
Dir (clan)
The Dir , or Theyr bin Abdalla as mentioned in the book "Futuh al-Habasha", is a Somali clan. Its members mostly live in northwestern Somalia and Djibouti, in addition to southern and central Somalia and the Ogaden....
clan.
Districts
The Awdal region consists of five districts:- Baki DistrictBaki DistrictBaki District is a district of the Awdal region in northwestern Somalia. Its capital lies at Baki. Local control of the district is disputed between Awdalland, a proposed autonomous state, and Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia....
- Borama DistrictBorama DistrictBorama District or Boramo District is a district of the Awdal region in northwestern Somalia. Its capital is Borama. Local control of the district is disputed between Awdalland, a proposed autonomous state, and Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous...
- Dilla DistrictDilla DistrictDilla District is a district in the northwestern Awdal region of Somalia. Its capital lies at Dilla. Local control of the district is disputed between Awdalland, a proposed autonomous state, and Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of...
- Lughaya DistrictLughaya DistrictLughaya District is a district of the Awdal region in northwestern Somalia. Local control of the district is disputed between Awdalland, a proposed autonomous state, and Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia....
- Saylac DistrictSaylac DistrictZeila District is a district of the Awdal region in northwestern Somalia. Its capital is at Zeila . Local control of the district is disputed between Awdalland, a proposed autonomous state, and Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of...