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Somali Region

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The Somali Region is a large part of eastern Ethiopia. It is the second largest region in the whole country.

Somali region map Ethiopia
Somali region map Ethiopia

This area sits near many different places. To the north, it borders Djibouti. To the northeast, it touches Somaliland. It is also next to Somalia to the east and south. To the southwest, it meets Kenya. Within Ethiopia, it sits near the Afar and Oromia regions. The capital city of this state is Jijiga.

Life in the region is shaped by its many people. Most people living here are Somali. In fact, about 99% of the people are Somali. Almost everyone is also Muslim. Most people speak the Somali language.

Somali region
Somali region

Many people live in the rural countryside. Only about 14% of the people live in towns or cities. The region is also home to many refugees. There are eight refugee camps and one transit center. These places hold over 212,000 people from Somalia.

Animals are very important to the way people live. Many people raise livestock, which are animals kept for food or work. The region has a huge number of camels. It holds 96.2% of all the camels in Ethiopia.

Somregcammil
Somregcammil

There are also millions of goats and sheep. People also keep many cattle and donkeys. Some people are nomadic, meaning they move around with their animals. They travel to find the best food and water for their herds.

History shows that this land has changed over time. In the late 19th century, the area was part of the conquests of Menelik II. Before 1995, the region was made of three provinces called Hararghe, Bale, and Sidamo. There was also a war called the Ogaden War in 1977. This happened when Somalia invaded Ethiopia. The Soviet Union and Cuba helped Ethiopia during that time. Even after that, local groups still wanted more independence.

The region has its own way of being run. There is an executive branch led by a President. The current leader is Mustafe Mohammed Omer. There is also a legislative branch called the State Council. This council has 269 members.

Mohamed Elmi Gani
Mohamed Elmi Gani

A judicial branch handles the laws. It has three different levels of courts. The highest court is the Somali Supreme Court. It is led by a chief judge named Abdullahi Saed Omar.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Somregcammil.jpg
Somregcammil.jpg
File:Mohamed Elmi Gani.JPG
Mohamed Elmi Gani.JPG
File:Somali region map Ethiopia.png
Somali region map Ethiopia.png
File:Somali region.jpg
Somali region.jpg
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