Last modified: 2025-04-19 by bruce berry
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The following list is intended to provide an overview of many of the
mini-states located throughout Somalia. [For an more up to date list go
to this page - Ed].
Mini-states in Galmudug:
Galmudug, which claims to run a combination of the
Mudug and Galgadud regions, was first to test this theory of mini-state in 2006.
Since that time, it has become a kind of role model for many mini-states
claiming to govern areas over which they actually have they have little or no
control.
Himan and Heeb was established in 2008 and mainly
covers parts of the Galgudud regions. One of the oldest of the regional states
proclaimed in Somalia, it is dominated by the Saleeban sub clan of Habar Gidir.
Himan and Heeb was presumably a direct answer to the Sa’ad dominated Galmdug
administration. The two homogenous clans of Galmudug and Himan and Heeb are the
most influential and had some permanent presence in
Galkacyo and Addado, and a technical presence beyond these two towns. Officials
from both Galmudug and Himan and Heeb made efforts to unite the two
administrations but failed as neither leader wanted to lose
his government position. Mohamed Abdulahi Ticey serves as president.
Gal-Hiran and Haradhere wants control of Galgudud region and parts of Hiran. Its
supporters are mainly part of the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jaama (ASWJ) and the main
cities in this state include Dhusamareeb,Guri-cel, Marer Gur and
Haradhere town which are considered to important pirate strongholds. Abdilqadid
Mohamed Bahdoon is the president of the state, which is dominated by Ayr, a sub
clan of Habargidir. The state was founded on 23 September 2010 and has relations
with the TFG.El-Bur State was created in London on 05 June 2011 to run
the El-Bur district in the Galgagud region of Somalia. El-Bur was formerly the
capital of the Galgaduud region and once served as a local commercial hub.
Abdillahi Malim Asparo is the president of El-Bur state, though al-Shababa and
Ahlu Sunna are currently fighting over El-Bur. It is located approximately 375
km north of Mogadishu.
Mareeg is a region in Galgadud based on the Ajuuran sultanate in the Middle
Ages. It was established in April 2011 and exists in the Galgudud and Mudug
regions. Its main administrative area is between Haradhere and Budbud towns and
includes approximately 250 km of seashore. Dayib Mohamed Sheikh serves as
president of Mareeg. Its leaders have called on Somali businessmen to build a
new port and roads linking the state with the other parts of Somalia, with the
purpose of encouraging regional development.
Somali Central State was established in 2011 and
claims control over parts of Galgudud and Mudug regions and has links with
Himan and Heeb.The center of the regional
state is Abudwak and is dominated by the
Mareehan clan. It does not yield much political power and has been overshadowed
by disagreements with ASWJ, which is currently the most powerful force in
Abdudwak. Mohamed Hashi Abdi is the president. He was arrested in Abdudwaq by
ASWJ militia forces.
Galgaduud state was formed in Dubai in April 2011. Its goal is to run the entire
Galgadud region, despite the fact that the states of Galmudug, Himan and Heeb,
Mareeg, El-Bur, Gal-Hiiran and Somali Central state all intend to run their own
regions. Abdirashid Mohamed Dirir is the president of Galgaduud state.
Waax and Waadi was established in Bristol, Britain in March 2011 to govern
Harardhere, Mareeg, El-Dher, Masagawa and Galad in Galgadud and the Juba Valley,
particularly Turdho and Kowsar. Nor Ali Omar akas
Dubad is the president of this administration.
Dooxo state was reportedly established in 2011. Its goal is to govern parts of
Galgadud and possibly the Mudug regions. Bashir Abdulahi Abshir is the president
of Dooxo. Little is known about this state.
Bila Quban state was created in April 2011. It wants to govern the area from Fah,
located 30km from Haradhere district, north to the Hurow, which is located 1km
from the Hilawe Gab village in southern Somalia.
Mini-states in Jubba:
Azania was established on 20 March 2011 in Kenya
and is supported by Kenya, which is interested helping
develop a regional administration and establish a buffer zone against threats
from al-Shabaab. Azania state is led by Mohamed Abdi Gandhi, a former Somalia
defence minister. He is an educated man who has personal contacts with the
governments of both Ethiopia and Kenya. The regional state
works inGedo and Lower Jubba regions, and its capital is Bu'aale town.
Jubbaland or Azania:
Jubbaland(1) (also Jubaland) was established on
19 December 2010 in Minnesota, USA. Its goal is to govern Bay, Bakool, Lower
Jubba, Gedo and Middle Jubba regions. Mohamed Rashid Haji Ali is the president
of
this administration.
Jubbaland (2) (Jubaland) was established in January
2012 is considered a rival regional to the state of
Azania. Jubbaland desires to rule Lower Jubba, Gedo and Middle Jubba.
Mohamed Farah Du'aaleh is the president, but is not as well known as Mohamed
Abdi Gandhi, the leader of Azania, who has links with Ethiopia and Kenya.
Jubbaland has no direct contact with these countries who support pro-government
militias including the ASWJ and Ras Kamboni fighting against al-Shabaab in lower
Jubba and Middle Jubba. Unlike Azania, Jubbaland has the support of the local
people in the regions who are reportedly suspicious of Azania's links with
Kenya.
Jubba and Shabelle was founded on 05 July 2011. It wants control of the Jubba
regions in the south and parts of the Bay region. The supporters of this
regional state are the Somali Bantu or Jareerweyne community and those of Digil
and Mirifle. Abdi Osman Omar is the president of this regional state.
Jubba-Ras was created 08 January 2011 in Scandinavia. It claims to have a
legitimate right to govern the Lower and Middle Jubba regions of Somalia. The
supporters of this administration are the Biyo-maal community. Abdi Qadir
Mohamud Yusuf is the president of Jubba-Ras state of Somalia. Little is known of
Mr. Yusuf other than he is young and calls himself "Engineer" (though it is not
known if he has earned this nickname through legitimate academic studies, or if
he simply prefers the name).
Jubba-Jasiira's formal founding date is unknown; however, the Nairobi-based
community from Shiiqaal held a welcoming party for Jubba-Jasiira's president
Abdi Ahmed Osman on 03 January 2011. It wants to administer the Jubba regions in
south Somalia.
Greenland state was founded in Kenya’s little Mogadishu district of Eastliegh in
Nairobi in 21 November 2010. Like Jubba-Jasiira, Greenland state wants to rule
in Jubba regions of Somalia. Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Afkule is the president of this
administration.
Dooxada Cagaaran state was created in Mogadishu in 08 May 2011. Ali Mohamed
Ibrahim is the president of this administration, which, like the two states
described above, also wants to control Jubba regions of Somalia.
Udubland state was established on 17 February 2011 by President Ibrahim
Abdullahi Addo. It claims to represent the communities of Lower Shabelle and the
two Jubba regions and wants to govern these three combined regions.
Shabelle-Jubba state was formed in Columbus, Ohio on 06 April 2012 by Dr.
Abdikadir Noor Awo. It appears this state wishes to govern more than six regions
(Shabeelaha Hoose, Jubada Dhexe, Jubada Hoose, Gedo,
Bay and Bakool) though each of these already has its own mini-state.
South West state was initially formed in November 2002 in Baidoa (capital of the
South West state) to govern Bay and Bakool regions but it is renewed in April
2011. It currently wants to control the Gedo, Bay, Bakool, Middle Juba, Lower
Juba and lower Shabelle regions in southwest Somalia. Sayid Ali Sheikh Mohamed
is the president of this administration.
Koofur-Galbeed - During the course of this research, Somalia Report discovered
another South West state, called Koofur-Galbeed also claiming to administer the
same area of Sheikh Mohamed’s South West state. The president of this
administration is Dr. Ali Abdi Baab. It is unclear whether one replaced the
other but it is possible they are independent.
Mini-states in Hiran:
Hiran (also Hiiraan) state was established on 10
August 2010 and seeks to rule the entire Hiran region. This region has a
strategic significance as it links southern regions to central Somalia. It is
also of strategic importance to Ethiopia, which wants to use the region as a
buffer zone to control the movements of the radical Islamists of al-Shabaab and
ONLF. Hiran state is led by Mohamed Abdi Gab and is set against Gal-Hiran state
and Shabelle Valley Administration (SVA) which also claim to be the legitimate
states in the region.
Dooxada Shabelle or Shabelle Valley Administration (SVA) wants control of the
central regions and Hiran and maintains an unspecified number of armed militia.
It was founded on 13 April 2011, apparently in reaction to the establishment of
Hiran state in September 2010, which is dominated by the Hawadle and Jijeele
clans, including Gaal Jecel, while some of Gaal Jecel are opposed to this new
state. Abdifitah Hassan Afhrah is the president of SVA and recently rejected the
TFG’s plans for creating an administration in Beledweyne after a bitter
disagreement between ASWJ and SVA over the control of Hiran region. This comes
after Ethiopian troops backed by SVA forces and ASWJ seized Beledweyne from al-Shabaab
forces in December 2011. It should be noted that the Somali government nominated
Abdifatah Hassan Afrah to be governor of Hiiran region.
Hiranland state was founded in September 2010. It maintains no armed militia and
its influence has been overshadowed by armed conflict and the power struggle
between the SVA and ASWJ. The group is led by
diaspora including its president Mukhtar Sheikh Abdirisak.
Hiiraan and Midland state was established June 2010 in London. Abdiqadir Adan
Abdi is the founder and the president of this administration.
Mini-states in Shabelle and Banadir:
Shabeelaha Dhexe state or Middle Shabelle state was formed in January 2009. It
wants to manage the Middle Shabelle region in Somalia. Ali Madahey Jawle is the
president of this mini-state.
Banadir was established in 2011 and represents the minority Banadiri community,
which is made up of mainly Arabs from Oman and Yemen. The supporters of this
regional state do not belong to the armed clans and
are considered to the "others" group who receive half due the power sharing
formula of 4.5. Banadir state could have influence on supporters living mainly
in the districts of Hammerwein, Shingani districts of Mogadishu and in Marka and
Brava in Lower Shabelle region. Abba Awow Haji is the president of Banadir.
Ex-Banadir state of Somalia was also created in Mogadishu in March 2012 to run
the Banaadir, Middle Shabelle, and Lower Shabelle regions.Somalia
government soldiers intervened and stopped the formation party
of this administration but its president Mohamed Abdirahman Ali claims a legal
right to manage the three regions of Somalia. The Banadir region “Mogadishu” has
already has a TFG-formed administration.Mogadishu will be the
headquarters for the administration.
Jiin-webi was founded on 01 October 2011 and is supported by the Somali Bantu or
Jareerweyne communities, a minority group that descended from tribes in East and
central Africa. These communitiesinclude the Wagosha communities and are
discriminated against by tother Somali clans. This group is mainly made up of
peasants living Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and
Hiran.They joined with the .5 of the 4.5 clan sharing formula in
parliament; therefore, they are not well represented. Mohamed Ahmed Hussein is
its president.
Banaadirland was established in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2011. It wants to
run the Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle and Banadir regions.Engineer
Abdulle Hassan Nurrow is the president of Banaadirland
administration. Mogadishu will be headquarters for the administration.
Xamar iyo Xamr daye state wants to run Mogadishu’s Banadir region and
middle Shabelle. This administration is established in Nairobi on 15 May
2011. Jibril Haji Mohamud is the president of this administration.
Wargaadhi State was formed May 2011 in Nairobi. It seeks to run the Middle
Shabelle region. Yusuf Hundubay is the president of Wargaadhi State of Somalia.
Hir iyo Maanyo was established in 2011. It wants to administrate the Lower and
Middle Shabelle regions of Somalia. Engineer Ahmed Bajuu is the president of
this administration.
Abweyn State was formed in September 2011. Its goal is to rule the Banadir,
Lower and Middle Shabelle regions of Somalia. Abdullahi Abdi Mohamed is the
president of this administration.
Mini-states in
Puntland:
Ras-Aseyr state was established on 17 April 2011 and is dominated by the
Siwaqroon clan in the Bari region of Puntland. It was
founded in Bargaal, the capital of Bari region and its president is Mohamed
Farah
Doxa-joog. This regional state has contacts with Maakhir,
Mareeg, ASWJ, the TFG, and Khatumo, but almost has no contact with Puntland
authorities. Ras-Aseyr claims they were forced to declare their own state, which
lies within Puntland borders, after Puntland failed to develop their area and
even neglected the needs of its people.Puntland, furious over its
formation, has battled with the group for control of Bargaal, an eastern coastal
area of Puntland driven by the Siwaqroon sub clan of the Majerteen.
Karkaar state shares its name with the mountain rage which runs through it and
is mainly the southern area of Bari region of Puntland.
Maakhir was established in June 2007 after a dispute
with Puntland authorities over a range of issues, including mining and oil
resources. The biggest cities in the Maakhir state are Las Qoray, Badhan,
Hadaaftimo Hingalol and Erigavo. Maakhir state was established by the Warsengeli
sub clan of Darood and is not recognized by the government of Puntland. Jibril
Ali Salad is the president of Maakhir state and maintains a parliament and a
cabinet of ministers.
Mini-states in
Somaliland:
Saylac and Lughaye state of Somalia was formed on 07 February2012 to
govern parts of Somaliland as a member of the federal government in Somalia.
Mahad Abib Mohamud is the president of this administration,
which includes clans from Somaliland, Saylac, and Lughaye located northwestern
of Somalia. Somaliland has been controlling itself since its breakaway.
Awdal is clan based division based on a 16th
century sultanate in the westernmost region between Somaliland and
Djibouti inhabited by Gadabursi subclan of the Dir.
Somaliland and Adwalland are vying for control of this region. Awdal State of
Somalia wants to be part of a federal government of Somalia. Its second
anniversary took place in Switzerland on 20 March 2012. The closest that Rashid
Aw Nor Hirsi, the president of Awdal State of Somalia, can travel is Mogadishu
and the areas where Somaliland army have no presence.
Khaatumo was announced in January 2012 after a
meeting in Taleh town of Sool and it comprises the
Sool, Sanaag and Eyn regions. Khatumo was established during a conference
known as Khatumo2 and supports TFG
rather than Somaliland. The Dhulbahante clan, a sub clan of Darod clan, is
dominant in the regions of Sool, Sanag and Eyn and has maintains the SSC militia
fighters who fought against Somaliland in Buuhoodle. Major politicians including
Ali Khalif Galeyr, a former Somali prime minister and lecturer at US
universities, backed the conference. The Khatumo state of Somalia will have
three presidents, rotating on a six month basis, and a supreme council
comprising of three members, and a cabinet of six members. The three routine
presidents are: Ahmed Elmi Osman (Amed Karash), Mohmaed Yusuf Jama (Indhasheeel)
and Nur Elmi (Biindhe). In March of this year, the TFG officially recognized
Khatumo. In March 2012, the TFG recognized the state, but rescinded this few
days a later.
Cai Zhenyuan,16 July 2013