Garowe Garoowe غاروي
—  Town  —
Garowe Location in Somalia.
Coordinates: 8°24′N 48°29′E / 8.4°N 48.483°E / 8.4; 48.483Coordinates: 8°24′N 48°29′E / 8.4°N 48.483°E / 8.4; 48.483
Country	Somalia  Puntland
Region	Nugaal
District	Garowe
Government
• Mayor	Abdiaziz Nur Elmi Koor
Population
• Total	57,300
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Garowe (Somali: Garoowe, Arabic: غاروي‎) is the administrative capital of the Puntland region in northeastern Somalia.

Ruled in the 19th century by the Majeerteen Sultanate, it would later be incorporated into Italian Somaliland.

Garowe is located in the Nugaal province, and is the seat of the regional parliament, the presidential palace and government ministries. A fast-growing city, it has also evolved into a local media and cultural hub.

History[link]

A residential area in Garowe.

During the 19th century, Garowe and much of northeastern Somalia were an integral part of the Majeerteen Sultanate, ruled by Boqor Osman Mahamud, cousin of Sultan Yusuf Ali Kenadid of the Sultanate of Hobyo.

The city would later be incorporated into Italian Somaliland during the colonial period.

Following independence, Garowe was made a district center of Bosaso. The city would subsequently be re-assigned in the early 1970s as the regional capital of an area consisting of Las Anod and Eyl. Straddling the Nugaal valley, this new administrative division would be named Nugaal.^[1]

Following the outbreak of the civil war in 1991, a homegrown constitutional conference was held in Garowe in 1998 over a period of three months. Attended by the area's political elite, traditional elders (Issims), members of the business community, intellectuals and other civil society representatives, the autonomous Puntland State of Somalia was subsequently officially established so as to deliver services to the population, offer security, facilitate trade, and interact with both domestic and international partners.^[2]

Overview[link]

The presidential palace in Garowe.

Garowe is the third largest city in Puntland after Bosaso and Galkacyo. Situated in the Nugaal province in the geographical center of the region, it is the seat of the regional parliament, the presidential palace and government ministries.

The municipal administration is currently led by Abdiaziz Nur Elmi Koor. He was appointed Mayor in September 2009.^[3]

A number of NGOs also have their main offices in the city, including the local Puntland Development Research Center (PDRC). The PDRC plays a key role in research and funding for the development of peace and effective governance initiatives in Puntland. Additionally, the Puntland Agency For Social Welfare (PASWE) is headquartered here. Founded in May 2009 by the regional administration, it provides medical, educational and counseling support to vulnerable groups and individuals such as orphans, the disabled and the blind. PASWE is overseen by a Board of Directors, which consists of religious scholars (ulema), businesspeople, intellectuals and traditional elders.^[4]

Garowe is served by one major medical institution, Garowe Regional Hospital, in addition to numerous smaller health clinics. In 2008, the foundations were laid for the construction of a new general hospital, built with assistance from the Somali Manhal agency.^[5] The following year, a local non-profit organization also established the region's first mental health facility.^[4]

Demographics[link]

Garowe has a total population of about 57,300 inhabitants.^[6] As with most of Puntland, it is primarily inhabited by Somalis from the Harti Darod clan confederation, particularly the Majeerteen.^[7]

Education[link]

A computer classroom in Puntland State University.

The city hosts several schools, including Gambool Secondary School and Darwiish Primary and Secondary School.

Puntland State University's main campus is also located here. The school grew out of the Garowe School of Management, a women's college in Garowe offering courses in business management, accounting, computer skills and business English. Following the graduation of 60 pupils in its inaugural year, the school was expanded to observe a two-year structure and renamed the Puntland Community College (PCC). In 2004, the PCC again expanded its syllabus, this time offering four-year programs; it was also renamed to Puntland State University (PSU).^[8]

Other institutions of higher learning in the city include the Garowe Teachers Education College (GTEC), a primary teachers' training center that caters to the larger region.

Transportation[link]

Roadside view of a neighborhood in Garowe.

Garowe is trans-versed by a 750km north-south highway, which connects major cities in the northern part of the country, such as Bosaso and Galkacyo, with townships in the south.^[9]

Local air transport needs are served by Garowe International Airport, a major new airport situated about 12 km from the city center. It was officially opened in 2010 under the aegis of the Ministry for Civil Aviation and Airports. The first phase of the airport's construction was completed through a public-private partnership over a period of seven years, with the Garowe-based Mubarak construction company having assisted significantly in completing the project. The airport also attempts to adhere to the air transport standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).^[10]

Sports[link]

Garowe is home to Mire Aware Stadium, a sporting facility with a crowd capacity of over 15,000 spectators. In 2010, it hosted the Somali National Football Tournament, the first nation-wide football competition held since 1987 and the ensuing outbreak of the civil war. Organized by the Puntland administration in conjunction with the Somali Football Federation, the tournament also marked the first time that the event was held outside of Mogadishu.^[11]

Media[link]

Numerous news agencies and radio stations are based in Garowe. The latter include Garowe Online and Radio Garowe.

Districts[link]

Garowe consists of the following districts:

• 1da August
• Hantiwadaag
• Hodan
• Horseed
• Inji
• Milo
• Waaberi
• Wadajir
• Israac
• New Garowe

Climate[link]

References[link]

See also[link]

• Garowe Online
• Radio Garowe

External links[link]

• Garowe Online, a news and information site
• Spectacular Garowe, a video on YouTube
• Al Carab