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Beledweyne Beled Weyne
City
Aerial view of Beledweyne
Nickname: Xawaadle
BeledweyneLocation within SomaliaShow map of SomaliaBeledweyneLocation within the Horn of AfricaShow map of Horn of AfricaBeledweyneLocation within AfricaShow map of Africa
Coordinates: 04°44′09″N 045°12′13″E / 4.73583°N 45.20361°E / 4.73583; 45.20361
Country	Somalia
State	Hirshabelle
Region	Hiran
Government
• Mayor	nadar tabaax malin
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)

Beledweyne (Somali: Beledweyne, Arabic: بلد وين) is a city in central Somalia. Beledweyne District is the capital city of the Hiran region.

The city is situated in the Shebelle Valley riverine near the Ethiopian border, 210 miles (345 km) north of Mogadishu. Beledweyne is divided by the Shebelle River into eastern and western sections. In 2019, Safiya Jimale became the first female mayor in Somalia.

History

There were battles in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011. In December 2011, the Transitional Federal Government took control of Beledweyne from jihadist group al-Shabaab. Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers and around 3,000 allied Ethiopian Army troops descended on the city, capturing it following several hours of fighting. In October 2013, additional SNA and AMISOM troops were deployed to the town to firm up on security after al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack at a local cafeteria.

In April 2008 al-Shabaab fighters killed British/Somalian Headteacher Daud Ali and three of his teachers at the Hiran Educational Project in Beledweyne. This project had been started by Mr Ali to provide a British type education to primary-aged children in the war-torn region.

In 2009, an al-Shabaab suicide car bomber killed 57 people at a hotel. In 2013, they killed 16 people at a restaurant in October and 19 people at a police station in November. In February 2022, an al-Shabaab suicide bomber killed 14 people at a restaurant. In March 2022, they killed over 50 people in a series of attacks.

Municipality

On May 7, 2012, Beledweyne held its first mayoral elections since the start of the civil war in the early 1990s. Two hundred delegates took part in the contest, which was overseen by the Hiran region's head of elections, Sadaq Omar Sabriye. Mohamed Hassan Nuriye emerged as the new city mayor, obtaining 135 votes versus 11 and 8 votes, respectively, for the two nearest competitors.

In his first day in office, Mayor Nuriye officially banned firearms within the city limits. He also warned that people found contravening the edict would have their weapons impounded and could face imprisonment. In addition, Nuriye indicated that for security reasons, government soldiers who were not on patrol should remain within their bases. Soldiers would likewise only be permitted to carry weapons in the city while conducting security operations.

To further tighten up on security, Beledweyne municipality over a three-day period started simultaneously registering all local residents. Mayor Nuriye also unveiled plans for a citywide beautification campaign. In July 2012, his administration imposed a two-day night-time curfew in Beledweyne, while government soldiers demolished structures that had been illegally erected along the area's main road in one of the Municipality's first urban renewal initiatives.

In March 2015, the Beledweyne municipality launched a civilian tax collection program in the city. The tax revenue is earmarked for essential public social services. Additionally, the city government is slated to register all local businesses, which will further facilitate tax gathering. The municipal authorities are also scheduled to set up a new citywide house numbering system.

Transportation

Beledweyne is served by Beledweyne Airport. As of February 2015, the Djibouti Defense Forces have refurbished the airstrip.

Demographics

The district has a total population of 329,811 with 79/21 percent rural/urban divide, and it is inhabited by the Gaalje'el and Hawadle clans.

Climate

Beledweyne has a hot arid climate (Köppen climate classification BWh). Between March and April, the average daily maximum temperature in the city is 36.7 °C or 98.1 °F. In January and February, the average daily minimum temperature is 21.8 °C or 71.2 °F.

Notable residents

• Aden Abdullah Osman Daar, first President of Somalia
• Omar Hashi Aen National Security Minister

Notes

1. The Islamic Movement in Somalia. Adonis & Abbey Publishers. 2015-04-30. ISBN 9781912234035. Archived from the original on 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
2. "Somalia's first female mayor appointed in city of Beledweyne". 28 May 2019. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
3. "Ethiopian troops capture Beledweyne from Somalia militants". BBC News. December 31, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-12-31. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
4. "SOMALIA: Curfew begins in Beledweyn town a day after deadly suicide explosion". Raxanreeb. 20 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
5. Ali, Margaret (2008-05-15). "Daud Hassan Ali". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
6. "Suicide bombing kills 14 in Somali restaurant". The Guardian. 19 February 2022. Archived from the original on 19 February 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
7. "Beledweyne finally gets elected mayor". Bar-Kulan. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
8. ^ "Newly appointed Beledweyne mayor bans firearms in the city". Bar-Kulan. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
9. "Nighttime curfew imposed on Beledweyne". Bar-kulan. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
10. "Residents of Baladweyne Told To Pay Taxes". Goobjoog. 16 March 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
11. "Chief of the Djibouti Defence Forces Major General Zakaria Sheikh arrives Beledweyn, Hiran". Goobjoog. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
12. "Beesha Gaaljecel oo Baladweyne Ku Afduubatay Ganacsade kasoo Jeeda Galmudug". 27 February 2023.
13. "Sector IV Profile: Belet Weyne" (PDF). amisom-au.org. AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
14. "Klimatafel von Beled Weyne (Belet Uen) / Somalia" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
15. "Long term mean monthly sunshine fraction in Somalia". Food and Agriculture Organization. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 4 November 2016.

References

• Beledweyne, Somalia

• Beledweyne
• Populated places in Hiran, Somalia