Galdogob (Somali: Galdogob) is a town that is administered by the semi-autonomous Puntland State of Somalia, and serves as the capital of the Galdogob District within the Mudug region. The city technically straddles the disputed 1950s-era Provisional Administrative Line, as depicted on virtually all worldwide maps, from north-central Somalia.[2][3]
Galdogob
Galdogob | |
|---|---|
City | |
 | |
| Nickname: Galkii dogobka lahaa | |
  Galdogob Location within Somalia  Galdogob Location within the Horn of Africa  Galdogob Location within Africa | |
| Coordinates: 7°1′50″N 47°1′10″E / 7.03056°N 47.01944°E | |
| Country |  Somalia |
| Regional State |  Puntland |
| Region | Mudug |
| District | Galdogob |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ayahle Ahmed Farah |
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 108,000 |
| Time zone | UTC 3 (EAT) |
Overview
edit
Galdogob is located in the western part of the Mudug region bordering Ethiopia's portion of the Somali-majority Dollo Zone, and is a popular rest stop for Somali travelers heading to and from Addis Ababa, Werder, Djibouti, Jijiga, Dire Dawa, and Geladi. Over 100 small cars and heavy trucks pass through the city every day. In 1982 Galdogob briefly fell in the hands of Ethiopian backed group SSDF in the 1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War.[4]
Galdogob is a rapidly growing town and is populated mainly by Muse Cali (Leelkase Tanade) belonging to Darod tribe. It has a very reliable electricity and telecommunications network. The district's fresh water is provided by the Galdogob Water Company (GWC), which was founded by a group of local businessmen.
All this has helped Galdogob develop into a relatively large urban area for this region. Visitors to Galdogob will find high-speed internet cafés, hotels, taxis, and other amenities. Education plays a vital role in the lives of the people, and private schools teach computer skills, English, mathematics, science, and Islamic studies.
Galdogob also has a thriving livestock industry: hundreds of thousands of camels, sheep, goats and cattle are purchased here and shipped through the busy port of Bosaso every year. The city's livestock trade is at its most brisk during the hajj period, when over a hundred thousand heads of livestock are sold and shipped to the Gulf states, again through Bosaso. Galdogob has recently also seen the arrival of migrants from the more southernly areas of Somalia seeking work and a safer place to live.
The second largest hospital in the region, Galdogob general hospital, is located in this town, which serves both residents and surrounding areas. In October 2014, the firm Tawakal Money Express (Tawakal) began construction of the four-storey Tawakal Plaza Galdogob. The building features a Tawakal Global Bank customer and financial services center, conference and event halls, restaurant and coffee shop facilities, and a luxury hotel.[5] In 2016 Tawakal Money Express finished building a large multi purpose structure in Galdogob market area.
Galdogob and nearby areas across the border in Ethiopia are served by the Galdogob Airport. A major renovation of the facility was launched in 2020, funded by Somali businessmen from the local province. The airport's first scheduled flight departed in 2022. The airport was inaugurated by Fardowsa Osman Egal, the federal Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Somalia, with the event attended by several local officers from Puntland.[6]
Demographics
edit
As of 2005, the broader Galdogob District had a total population of 309,799 residents, out of it 147,366 were urban and 167,067 were non-urban. The majority of residents belong to the Leelkase clan, part of the Darod tribe.
Climate
editGaldogob has a hot arid climate (Köppen BWh). The coldest average temperatures occur during the winter months of November to February, when thermometer readings range from 23 to 25 °C (73 to 77 °F). The weather slowly heats up in the spring, as the April rainy season begins. Average temperatures later reach a maximum of around 41 °C over the summer period. Come September, a gradual fall chill starts to set in again.[7]
| Climate data for Galdogob | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30 (86) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
34 (93) |
39 (102) |
41 (106) |
41 (106) |
38 (100) |
33 (91) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
34 (93) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
26 (79) |
27 (81) |
30 (86) |
32 (90) |
31 (88) |
29 (84) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
23 (73) |
27 (80) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 15 (0.6) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.0) |
15 (0.6) |
5 (0.2) |
5 (0.2) |
33 (1.3) |
20 (0.8) |
15 (0.6) |
14 (0.6) |
5 (0.2) |
5 (0.2) |
133 (5.3) |
| Source: AccuWeather[7] | |||||||||||||
Education
edit
Galdogob has several academic institutions. According to the Puntland Ministry of Education, there are 25 primary schools and 5 secondary schools in the Galdogob District. Among these are Ciro, Al-Nur Galdogob, Kulmiye Galdogob and Qansaxle.[8] Secondary schools in the area include Ain Shams and Galdogob Secondary.[9] Higher learning is provided by AED informal education college, and Puntland State University [PSU].[10]
Notable residents
edit- Said Sheikh Samatar (1943– 24 February 2015) – scholar and writer
- Sadik Warfa – Member of the Somalia Parliament and Minister for Labour and social affairs of the Somali government
Notes
edit- ^ "Regions, districts, and their populations: Somalia 2005 (draft)" (PDF). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "Goldogob". Goldogob.
- ^ "Galdogob". OpenStreetMap.
- ^ Kendie, Daniel D. (2003). "Toward Northeast African Cooperation: Resolving the Ethiopia-Somalia Disputes". Northeast African Studies. 10 (2): 67–109. ISSN 0740-9133.
- ^ "SOMALIA: Tawakal Money Express announce building projects to house upcoming Tawakal Global Bank in Somalia". Raxanreeb. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ Somalia, F. T. L. (2022-11-10). "Galdogob Airport Officially Inaugurated in Puntland - Somali News today Live". FTL Somalia.
- ^ a b "Galdogob, Somalia - Weather". AccuWeather. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ^ "Puntland - Primary schools". Ministry of Education of Puntland. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "Puntland - Secondary schools". Ministry of Education of Puntland. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "A programme for improving governance, leadership and management capacity of the three health authorities in Somalia". Mannion Daniels Limited. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
References
edit- AF press clips, Volume 17. Bureau of African Affairs, Dept. of State, U.S.A. 1982.
- https://www.facebook.com/Goldogob?fref=ts