Sool
Encyclopedia
Sool is an administrative region (gobolka
) in northern Somalia
.
(Darwiish) movement.
The region is disputed between Somaliland
, the autonomous Puntland
, and HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose goal is the creation of its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC).
ethnic group, with the Dhulbahante
subdivision of the Harti confederation of Darod
sub-clans is especially well-represented.
, Sool was not a separate region but part of the larger Nugaal
province, with its capital at Garowe. It was separated from Nugaal in the 1980s.
From 2003 until October 2007, Sool was administered by Puntland
, a territory with a similar clan composition. In 2007, forces from Somaliland
occupied the region and assumed control. There is strong opposition against the presence of Somaliland troops in the region.
In the late 2000s, HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose goal is to establish its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC), was formed.
Regions of Somalia
Somalia is officially divided into eighteen administrative regions , which in turn are subdivided into districts. On a de facto basis, northern Somalia is now divided up among the autonomous states of Puntland and Somaliland...
) in northern 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...
.
Overview
With its capital at Las Anod, Sool is historically known for being the seat of the anti-colonial DervishDervish State
The Dervish state was an early 20th century Somali Sunni Muslim state that was established by Muhammad Abdullah Hassan, a religious leader who gathered Somali soldiers from across the Horn of Africa and united them into a loyal army known as the Dervishes...
(Darwiish) movement.
The region is disputed between Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
, the autonomous Puntland
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....
, and HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose goal is the creation of its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC).
Demographics
The region is mainly inhabited by people from the SomaliSomali 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...
ethnic group, with the Dhulbahante
Dhulbahante
The Dhulbahante is a Somali clan, and a part of the larger Harti Darod clan. Members of the clan primarily inhabit the Sool, Nugaal, Sanaag and Ayn regions, the Haud, the port city of Kismayo, as well as other areas in the Jubbada Hoose region of southern Somalia.-Tradition:Currently, there are...
subdivision of the Harti confederation of 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...
sub-clans is especially well-represented.
Territorial dispute
Under the government of Siad BarreSiad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre was the military dictator and President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad ....
, Sool was not a separate region but part of the larger 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, with its capital at Garowe. It was separated from Nugaal in the 1980s.
From 2003 until October 2007, Sool was administered by Puntland
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....
, a territory with a similar clan composition. In 2007, forces from Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
occupied the region and assumed control. There is strong opposition against the presence of Somaliland troops in the region.
In the late 2000s, HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose goal is to establish its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC), was formed.
Districts
The Sool region consists of the following districts:- Aynabo District
- Las Anod District
- Taleh District
- Xudun DistrictXudun DistrictXudun District is a district in the northern Sool region of Somalia. Its capital lies at Xudun. Towns in the district include Xananley, Gorofley, Mugul, Waharlarshe, Jdhanshile, Tuurcanood, Goddhuub, Xaaballas, Bohol and Lasacardin.-External links:*...