Southwestern Somalia 483484 224933612 2008-07-11T01:58:37Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Infobox_Country| |native_name = Southwestern Somalia |common_name = Southwestern Somalia |image_flag = Flag of Southwestern Somalia.svg |image_coat = Somalia arms.png |image_map = location southwestern.png |map_caption = Southwestern Somalia and claimed territories, 2002-2006 |national_motto = |national_anthem = |official_languages = [[Somali language|Somali]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] |capital = [[Baidoa]] |latd= |latm= |latNS= |longd= |longm= |longEW= | |largest_city = [[Baidoa]] |government_type = |leader_title1 = [[President]] |leader_title2 = |leader_name1 = [[Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud]] |leader_name2 = |area_rank = |area_magnitude = |area_km2 = |area_sq_mi = |percent_water = |population_estimate = |population_estimate_year = |population_estimate_rank = |population_census = |population_census_year = |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_density_rank = |GDP_PPP_year = |GDP_PPP = |GDP_PPP_rank = |GDP_PPP_per_capita = |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = |HDI_year = |HDI = |HDI_rank = |HDI_category = |sovereignty_type = [[Autonomy]] |sovereignty_note = within [[Somalia]] |established_event1 = Declared |established_event2 = Abandoned |established_date1 = [[April 1]], [[2002]] |established_date2 = [[February 10]], [[2006]] |currency = [[Somali shilling]] |currency_code = SOS |country_code = so |time_zone = [[East Africa Time|EAT]] |utc_offset = +3 |time_zone_DST = ''not observed'' |utc_offset_DST = +3 |cctld = [[.so]] |calling_code = 252 (Somalia) |footnotes = }} '''Southwestern Somalia''' ({{lang-so|''Koonfur-Galbeed Soomaaliya''}}) was an ostensibly autonomous [[List of unrecognized countries|self-proclaimed state]] in [[Somalia]] founded by [[Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud]], leader of the [[Rahanweyn Resistance Army]] (RRA) on [[April 1]], [[2002]].<ref name=SOMALIA-RRA-SETS-UP-AUTONOMOUS-REGION>{{cite news |title=SOMALIA: RRA sets up autonomous region |url=http://www.fotw.us/flags/so-sws.html |date=[[2002-04-01]] |publisher=[[IRIN]] |accessdate=2007-02-04 }}</ref><ref name=THIRD-AUTONOMOUS-REGION-BREAKS-WITH-SOMALIA>{{cite news |title=Third autonomous region breaks with Somalia |url=http://www.afrol.com/News2002/som004_southwest.htm |publisher=[[Afrol News]] |date=[[2002-03-02]] |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> The state was officially the '''Southwestern State of Somalia''' (SWS) (Somali: ''Dowlad Goboleedka Koonfur-Galbeed ee Soomaaliya'') and intended to consist of six Somali administrative regions (''[[Regions of Somalia|gobolka]]''); These are the [[Bay, Somalia|Bay]], [[Bakool]], [[Middle Juba]] (''Jubada Dhexe''), [[Lower Shabelle]] (''Shabeelada Hoose''), [[Gedo]], and [[Lower Juba]] (''Jubada Hoose'') regions where the majority of the residents of Rahanweyn [[Digil-Mirifle]] and May-May Somali speakers. The organization of the autonomous state was a move to show the disaffection of the RRA with the nascent Mogadishu-based [[Transitional National Government]] (TNG) and an act to counter the influence of the [[Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council]] (SRRC) in the same regions.<ref name=THIRD-AUTONOMOUS-REGION-BREAKS-WITH-SOMALIA>{{cite news |title=Third autonomous region breaks with Somalia |url=http://www.afrol.com/News2002/som004_southwest.htm |publisher=[[Afrol News]] |date=[[2002-03-02]] |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> ==Rivalry and reconciliation within the RRA== After [[3 October]] [[2002]] (except for a brief period on [[14 December]]–[[16 December]] 2002), the regional capital [[Baidoa]] was controlled by [[Sheikh]] [[Aden Madobe]] and [[Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade]]. Shatigudud and Madobe reconciled on [[September 23]], [[2003]], but the rivalry with Habsade continued. All three, including Habsade, were appointed [[Members of Parliament]] in the [[Transitional Federal Parliament]] (TFP) in November 2004.<ref name=SELECTED-MEMBERS-OF-TFP>{{cite web |title=SELECTED MEMBERS OF TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL PARLIAMENT OF SOMALIA |url=http://somali-civilsociety.org/downloads/Names%20of%20the%20selected%20Members%20of%20Parliament.pdf |date=November 2004 |accessdate=2007-02-04 }}</ref> In January 2005, the traditional [[Rahanweyn|Rahanweyn Clan]] elders and civic society leaders again helped reconcile Shatigadud, Madobe, and Habsade. At that time, both Shatigadud and Madobe also became ministers in the [[Transitional Federal Government]] (TFG) of [[Prime Minister]] [[Ali Muhammad Ghedi]].<ref name=PRIME-MINISTER-GEEDI-ANNOUNCED-HIS-SECOND-CABINET-LINEUP>{{cite web |title=Prime Minister Geedi announced his second cabinet line up |url=http://www.somali-civilsociety.org/downloads/press/List%20Cabinet%20Ministers%208_%20Jan_05.pdf |accessdate=2007-02-03 }}</ref> However, in May 2005, Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade accused Madobe and Shatigudud of attacking Baidoa to take the city on behalf of President [[Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed]], who later used the city to establish a new interim capital within the country. In May 2005 alone, 19 were killed and 28 wounded in the fight over the city.<ref name=SOMALI-FACTIONS-FIGHT-FOR-KEY-TOWN>{{cite news |title=Somali factions fight for key town, 19 killed |url=http://www.sabcnews.com/Article/PrintWholeStory/0,2160,105535,00.html |date=[[2005-05-30]] |publisher=[[SABC News]] |accessdate=2007-02-03 }}</ref> All three were in Baidoa on [[February 10]], [[2006]] helping host the [[Transitional Federal Parliament]] (TFP) of Somalia hold its first Parliamentary session in Somalia (before this date, Parliament met in [[Kenya]] due to security problems in Somalia). The Transitional Federal Government based itself out of Baidoa and held little direct authority over any territory. Territorial administration often remained in the hands of the specific warlords, in this case Shatigadud, Madobe, and Habsade. Shatigadud remains the popular leader of the Rahanweyn and, since his return, he has been named as the Chairman of the Council of the Rahanweyn court with both Madobe and Habsade being members. Habsade is allowed to be the local chief.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} ==Conflict with the Islamic Courts Union== {{main|Rise of the Islamic Courts Union (2006)|War in Somalia (2006–present)}} During the [[War in Somalia (2006–present)]], the Bay region was heavily contested between Southwestern Somalian and [[Transitional Federal Government]] forces, who controlled the [[Baidoa]], and [[Qansax Dheere]] districts, and the [[Islamic Courts Union]] (ICU), who controlled [[Diinsoor]] and [[Buur Hakaba]] (despite being captured twice by government forces for brief periods). The forces of the TFG and Southwestern Somalia, backed by [[Ethiopia]]n troops, were victorious at the [[Battle of Baidoa]]. ==Current Status== Southwestern Somalia has largely thrown its lot in with the Transitional Federal Government, and has abandoned the idea of autonomy. ==References== {{reflist}} {{States of Somalia}} [[Category:Disputed territories]] [[Category:States of Somalia]] [[Category:2002 establishments]] [[de:Südwestsomalia]] [[et:Edela-Somaalia]] [[id:Somalia Barat Daya]] [[nl:Zuidwest-Somalië]] [[ja:南西ソマリア]] [[pt:Somália do Sudoeste]] [[fi:Lounais-Somalia]] [[zh:索马里西南国]]