Garoowe
Encyclopedia
Garowe is the administrative capital of the Puntland
region in northeastern Somalia
.
Ruled in the 19th century by the Majeerteen Sultanate, it would later be incorporated into Italian Somaliland
.
Garowe is located in the Nugaal
province, and is the seat of the regional parliament
, the presidential palace and government ministries. A fast-growing city, it has also evolved into a local media and cultural hub.
Yusuf Ali Kenadid of the Sultanate of Hobyo
.
The city would later be incorporated into Italian Somaliland
during the colonial period.
Following independence, Garowe was made a district center of Bosaso. The city would subsequently be re-assigned in the early 1970s as the regional capital of an area consisting of Las Anod and Eyl
. Straddling the Nugaal valley, this new administrative division would be named Nugaal
.Africa research bulletin: Political, social, and cultural series, Volumes 10-11, Africa Research Ltd: 1973), p.2721.
Following the outbreak of the civil war
in 1991, a homegrown constitutional conference was held in Garowe in 1998 over a period of three months. Attended by the area's political elite, traditional elders (Issims), members of the business community, intellectuals and other civil society representatives, the autonomous Puntland State of Somalia
was subsequently officially established so as to deliver services to the population, offer security, facilitate trade, and interact with both domestic and international partners.
Garowe is the third largest city in Puntland after Bosaso and Galkacyo. Situated in the Nugaal province in the geographical center of the region, it is the seat of the regional parliament
, the presidential palace and government ministries.
The municipal administration is currently led by Abdiaziz Nur Elmi Koor
. He was appointed Mayor
in September 2009.
A number of NGOs also have their main offices in the city, including the local Puntland Development Research Center
(PDRC). The PDRC plays a key role in research and funding for the development of peace and effective governance initiatives in Puntland. Additionally, the Puntland Agency For Social Welfare (PASWE) is headquartered here. Founded in May 2009 by the regional administration, it provides medical, educational and counseling support to vulnerable groups and individuals such as orphans, the disabled and the blind. PASWE is overseen by a Board of Directors, which consists of religious scholars (ulema
), businesspeople, intellectuals and traditional elders.
Garowe is served by one major medical institution, Garowe Regional Hospital, in addition to numerous smaller health clinics. In 2008, the foundations were laid for the construction of a new general hospital, built with assistance from the Somali Manhal agency. The following year, a local non-profit organization also established the region's first mental health facility.
from the Harti
Darod
clan confederation, particularly the Majeerteen
.
Puntland State University
's main campus is also located here. The school grew out of the Garowe School of Management, a women's college in Garowe offering courses in business management, accounting, computer skills and business English. Following the graduation of 60 pupils in its inaugural year, the school was expanded to observe a two-year structure and renamed the Puntland Community College (PCC). In 2004, the PCC again expanded its syllabus, this time offering four-year programs; it was also renamed to Puntland State University (PSU).
Other institutions of higher learning in the city include the Garowe Teachers Education College (GTEC), a primary teachers' training center that caters to the larger region.
Local air transport needs are served by Garowe International Airport, a major new airport situated about 12 km from the city center. It was officially opened in 2010 under the aegis of the Ministry for Civil Aviation and Airports. The first phase of the airport's construction was completed through a public-private partnership over a period of seven years, with the Garowe-based Mubarak construction company having assisted significantly in completing the project. The airport also attempts to adhere to the air transport standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
, the tournament also marked the first time that the event was held outside of Mogadishu
.
and radio stations are based in Garowe. The latter include Garowe Online
and Radio Garowe
.
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
region in northeastern Somalia
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...
.
Ruled in the 19th century by the Majeerteen Sultanate, it would later be incorporated into Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
.
Garowe is located in the Nugaal
Nugaal
Nugal is an administrative region in northeastern Somalia.-Overview:It is bordered by Ethiopia and the Somalian regions of Sool to the west, Bari to the north, and Mudug to the south, with the Indian Ocean to the east....
province, and is the seat of the regional parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
, the presidential palace and government ministries. A fast-growing city, it has also evolved into a local media and cultural hub.
History
During the 19th century, Garowe and much of northeastern Somalia were an integral part of the Majeerteen Sultanate, ruled by Boqor Osman Mahamud, cousin of SultanSultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Yusuf Ali Kenadid of the Sultanate of Hobyo
Sultanate of Hobyo
The Sultanate of Hobyo was a 19th century Somali ruling house in present-day northern Somalia. It was carved out of the former Majeerteen Sultanate by Yusuf Ali Kenadid, cousin of the Majeerteen Sultanate's ruler, Boqor Osman Mahamuud....
.
The city would later be incorporated into Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
during the colonial period.
Following independence, Garowe was made a district center of Bosaso. The city would subsequently be re-assigned in the early 1970s as the regional capital of an area consisting of Las Anod and Eyl
Eyl
Eyl is an ancient town in the northern Puntland region of Somalia. It is situated near the Hafun peninsula.-History:Eyl is the site of many historical artifacts from Somalia's pre-colonial period...
. Straddling the Nugaal valley, this new administrative division would be named Nugaal
Nugaal
Nugal is an administrative region in northeastern Somalia.-Overview:It is bordered by Ethiopia and the Somalian regions of Sool to the west, Bari to the north, and Mudug to the south, with the Indian Ocean to the east....
.Africa research bulletin: Political, social, and cultural series, Volumes 10-11, Africa Research Ltd: 1973), p.2721.
Following the outbreak of the civil war
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
in 1991, a homegrown constitutional conference was held in Garowe in 1998 over a period of three months. Attended by the area's political elite, traditional elders (Issims), members of the business community, intellectuals and other civil society representatives, the autonomous Puntland State of Somalia
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
was subsequently officially established so as to deliver services to the population, offer security, facilitate trade, and interact with both domestic and international partners.
Overview
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
, the presidential palace and government ministries.
The municipal administration is currently led by Abdiaziz Nur Elmi Koor
Abdiaziz Nur Elmi Koor
Abdiaziz Nur Elmi Koor is a Somali politician. He is the current Mayor of Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland region in northeastern Somalia. Koor was appointed to the position in September 2009.-References:...
. He was appointed Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in September 2009.
A number of NGOs also have their main offices in the city, including the local Puntland Development Research Center
Puntland Development Research Center
The Puntland Development Research Center is a Local Non-Governmental Organization based in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland region in northeastern Somalia...
(PDRC). The PDRC plays a key role in research and funding for the development of peace and effective governance initiatives in Puntland. Additionally, the Puntland Agency For Social Welfare (PASWE) is headquartered here. Founded in May 2009 by the regional administration, it provides medical, educational and counseling support to vulnerable groups and individuals such as orphans, the disabled and the blind. PASWE is overseen by a Board of Directors, which consists of religious scholars (ulema
Ulama
-In Islam:* Ulema, also transliterated "ulama", a community of legal scholars of Islam and its laws . See:**Nahdlatul Ulama **Darul-uloom Nadwatul Ulama **Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal**Jamiat ul-Ulama -Other:...
), businesspeople, intellectuals and traditional elders.
Garowe is served by one major medical institution, Garowe Regional Hospital, in addition to numerous smaller health clinics. In 2008, the foundations were laid for the construction of a new general hospital, built with assistance from the Somali Manhal agency. The following year, a local non-profit organization also established the region's first mental health facility.
Demographics
Garowe has a total population of about 57,300 inhabitants. As with most of Puntland, it 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 Harti
Harti
Harti , meaning "strong man", is a name used to denote a confederation of various Darod sub-clans of the Somali people.-Clan tree:There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures and many lineages are omitted...
Darod
Darod
The Darod is a Somali clan. The father of this clan is named Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, but is more commonly known as Darod. In the Somali language, the word Daarood means "an enclosed compound," a conflation of the two words daar and ood .The Darod population in Somalia lives principally...
clan confederation, particularly the Majeerteen
Majeerteen
The Majeerteen is a Somali clan. Its members form a part of the Harti confederation of Darod sub-clans, and primarily inhabit the Puntland region in northeastern Somalia....
.
Education
The city hosts several schools, including Gambool Secondary School and Darwiish Primary and Secondary School.Puntland State University
Puntland State University
Puntland State University is a university in Garowe, the capital of the Puntland region of Somalia.-History:The school traces its roots back to the Garowe School of Management, a women's school in Garowe offering courses in accounting, computer skills, business English and business management...
's main campus is also located here. The school grew out of the Garowe School of Management, a women's college in Garowe offering courses in business management, accounting, computer skills and business English. Following the graduation of 60 pupils in its inaugural year, the school was expanded to observe a two-year structure and renamed the Puntland Community College (PCC). In 2004, the PCC again expanded its syllabus, this time offering four-year programs; it was also renamed to Puntland State University (PSU).
Other institutions of higher learning in the city include the Garowe Teachers Education College (GTEC), a primary teachers' training center that caters to the larger region.
Transportation
Garowe is trans-versed by a 750km north-south highway, which connects major cities in the northern part of the country, such as Bosaso and Galkacyo, with townships in the south.Local air transport needs are served by Garowe International Airport, a major new airport situated about 12 km from the city center. It was officially opened in 2010 under the aegis of the Ministry for Civil Aviation and Airports. The first phase of the airport's construction was completed through a public-private partnership over a period of seven years, with the Garowe-based Mubarak construction company having assisted significantly in completing the project. The airport also attempts to adhere to the air transport standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Sports
Garowe is home to Mire Aware Stadium, a sporting facility with a crowd capacity of over 15,000 spectators. In 2010, it hosted the Somali National Football Tournament, the first nation-wide football competition held since 1987 and the ensuing outbreak of the civil war. Organized by the Puntland administration in conjunction with the Somali Football FederationSomali Football Federation
The Somali Football Federation was founded in 1960. In that same year, the SFF became a FIFA member and has been affiliated with the organization ever since. In 1975, it joined the Confederation of African Football , an administrative body it is still likewise a member of. It is also a part of the...
, the tournament also marked the first time that the event was held outside of Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
.
Media
Numerous news agenciesNews agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
and radio stations are based in Garowe. The latter include Garowe Online
Garowe Online
Garowe Online is an independently-operated news agency based in Puntland, Somalia.-History:Garowe Online specializes in publishing Somali news from sources inside Somalia in both Somali and English. Established in 2004, it is owned by Nugaal community members...
and Radio Garowe
Radio Garowe
Radio Garowe is a community radio station based in the city of Garowe in Puntland, a self-governing region in northern Somalia. Established in 2004, Radio Garowe broadcasts daily on 89.8 FM.-Sources:* - MondoTimes.com* - Sydney Morning Herald...
.
Districts
Garowe consists of the following districts:- Hantiwadaag
- Inji
- Waaberi
- Wadajir
- Milo