Bay, Somalia

Bay Bai
Region
Bay
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname:  Baay
Location in Somalia.
Coordinates: 3°4′28″N 43°50′7″E
Country	Somalia
Regional State	South West
Capital	Baidoa
Government
• Governor	Ali Wardere Doyow[1]
Area
• Total	35,156 km^2 (13,574 sq mi)
Population  (2019[2])
• Total	1,560,900
• Density	44/km^2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
HDI (2021)	0.294[3] low · 15th of 18

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

Overview

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

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

Bay Region consists of five districts:^[7]

• Baidoa District
• Burhakaba District
• Dinsoor District
• Qasadhere District
• Berdale District
• Ufurow District

Major towns

• Baidoa
• Dinsoor
• Burhakaba
• Berdaale
• Qansahdhere
• Ufurow
• Awdiinle
• Leego
• Eesow

Notes

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.

External links

• Administrative map of Bay Region