Bay (Somali: Baay, Arabic: باي, Italian: Bai) is an administrative region (gobol) in southern Somalia.[4]

Bay
Bai
Bay
Flag of Bay
Coat of arms of Bay
Nickname: 
Baay
Location in Somalia.
Location in Somalia.
Coordinates: 3°4′28″N 43°50′7″E / 3.07444°N 43.83528°E / 3.07444; 43.83528
Country Somalia
Regional State South West
CapitalBaidoa
Government
 • GovernorAli Wardere Doyow[1]
Area
 • Total
35,156 km2 (13,574 sq mi)
Population
 (2019[2])
 • Total
1,560,900
 • Density44/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
HDI (2021)0.294[3]
low · 15th of 18

Overview

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It is bordered by the Somali regions of Bakool, Hiran, Lower Shebelle (Shabeellaha Hoose), Middle Juba (Jubbada Dhexe), and Gedo.

Baidoa used to be the capital of the old Upper Juba region, which today also includes Gedo, Bakool, and most parts of the Middle Juba region. The present regions were created in the 1970s by the then ruling military regime. The capital of Bay is Baidoa.

During the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in late December 2006, Bay region witnessed a series of fierce, concurrent battles lasting nine days between the invading Ethiopian military and the Islamic Courts Union.[5]

Demographics

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The region is mainly inhabited by the Rahanweyn people. According to the Population Estimation Survey (2014) (282), the division of population in the Bay region was as follows: 93,046 urban inhabitants, 463,330 rural settlers, 195,986 nomadic and 39,820 internally displaced persons (IDPs), making a total of 792,182.[6]

Districts

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Bay Region consists of five districts:[7]

Major towns

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Notes

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  1. ^ "News in Brief, 21st March 2014" (PDF). Embassy of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Somalia: Subdivision and cities". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Somalia". The World Factbook. Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  5. ^ Suldaan Ibraahim, Dr. Suldaan Maxamed. Hormuud Habaabay: Milicsiga Kacdoonkii Maxaakiimta Islaamiga Ahaa (2006-2009kii). Hill Press. pp. 34–36.
  6. ^ "EASO Country of Origin Information Report: Somalia Security Situation" (PDF). European Asylum Support Office. p. 38. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Bay Region" (PDF). Retrieved 11 January 2014.
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