Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🗺️

Jubaland

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Jubaland is a federal member state located in southern Somalia. It is also frequently called the Juba Valley. This region is defined by its proximity to the Jubba River. Its eastern border extends to the Indian Ocean. To the west, it borders the North Eastern Province of Kenya. This Kenyan province was originally part of Jubaland before colonial borders changed.

Jubaland and surrounding areas in the 19th century, prior to the Somali Reconquest
Jubaland and surrounding areas in the 19th century, prior to the Somali Reconquest

The geography of Jubaland includes several important urban centers. Kismayo is the largest city and is situated on the coast. Other principal settlements include Bardhere, Luuq, and Beled Haawo. However, some areas have faced instability. For example, the cities of Jamame and Jilib have been occupied by Al-Shabaab. As of 2005, the total population of the region was 953,045 inhabitants.

History in the region stretches back to the Middle Ages. During this time, the influential Somali Ajuran Sultanate held power over the territory. This was followed by the Geledi Sultanate during the early modern period. Between 1836 and 1861, the Sultanate of Muscat also claimed parts of the land. In the early 19th century, Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan founded the fortified town of Bardheere. This period saw a long reconquest to restore land to Somali clans. This process eventually pushed Oromo groups toward the Tana River in Kenya.

The colonial period brought significant political shifts to the area. The Geledi ruler, Osman Ahmed, signed treaties with Italian colonial forces. Consequently, Jubaland was ceded to Italy in 1924–1925. For a short time, it existed as the Italian colony of Trans-Juba, or Oltre Giuba. You can see evidence of this era in old postage stamps.

JubalandPostageStamps
JubalandPostageStamps

Britain also held part of the territory, known as the Northern Frontier District. Eventually, the region joined Italian Somaliland in 1926. On 1 July 1960, it became part of the independent Somali Republic.

Environmental factors caused major human migrations in the 1970s. A severe drought known as the Abaartii Dabadheer, or "The Lingering Drought," hit northern Somalia. This occurred between 1974 and 1975. To help, the Soviet Union airlifted approximately 90,000 people to the Jubba regions. This migration led to the creation of Danwadaagaha, which are collective settlements. These new residents transitioned from pastoralist livestock herding to farming and fishing.

Political instability followed the collapse of the Barre government in the late 1980s. This led to the Somali Civil War. In 1998, General Mohammed Said Hersi "Morgan" briefly declared Jubaland independent. Later, the Juba Valley Alliance was formed in 2001. In 2006, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) took control and imposed Sharia law. However, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) later drove them out with help from Ethiopia and the African Union. This included the Battle of Ras Kamboni in January 2007.

Recent years have focused on reviving the Jubaland administration. In 2011, Kenyan military entry into Somalia helped support a new mission. In February 2013, over 500 delegates met in Kismayo to plan the state's formation. They approved a draft provisional constitution in April 2013. In May 2013, Ahmed Mohamed Islam, also known as Madobe, was elected President. This process led to a national reconciliation agreement in August 2013. This pact helped integrate Jubaland's military into the Somali National Army.

529 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (2)
File:Jubaland_and_surrounding_areas_in_the_19th_century,_prior_to_the_Somali_Reconquest.png
Jubaland_and_surrounding_areas_in_the_19th...
File:JubalandPostageStamps.jpg
JubalandPostageStamps.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.