Ogaden

This article is about a geographical area in Ethiopia. For the Somali clan, see Ogaden (clan).

Ogaden
Ogaadeen
ውጋዴ/ውጋዴን
Map of the Ogaden region with Somali-inhabited land shaded in red
Map of the Ogaden region with Somali-inhabited land shaded in red
Region (non-administrative)Ogaden
Area
 • Total
327,068 km2 (126,282 sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeET-SO

Ogaden (pronounced and often spelled Ogadēn; Somali: Ogaadeen, Amharic: ውጋዴ/ውጋዴን) is one of the historical names used for the modern Somali Region. It is also natively referred to as Soomaali Galbeed (lit. 'Western Somalia'). The region forms the eastern portion of Ethiopia and borders Somalia. It also includes another region to the north known as Haud.[1]

The Ogaden is a vast plateau located to the south and southeast of the Ethiopian Highlands, and is overwhelmingly inhabited by Somali people. It represents the westernmost region inhabited by the Somalis in the Horn of Africa.[2] It is largely a semi-arid region[3] and encompasses the plains between the border of Somalia and Ethiopia, extending towards the southeastern highlands, where larger cities like Harar and Dire Dawa are located near.[4]

The primary river in the region is the Shebelle, which is fed by temporary seasonal streams. Towards the southwestern edge of the Ogaden is the source of the Ganale Doria River, which joins Dawa River to become the major Jubba River on the Somali border. The Ogaden is known for its oil and gas reserves,[5] although development efforts have been hindered by instability prevailing in the area.[6]

  1. ^ "Hawd Plateau | plateau, East Africa". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  2. ^ Abdi, Said Y. (January–March 1978). "Self-Determination for Ogaden Somalis". Horn of Africa. 1 (1): 20–25.
  3. ^ AF Press Clips. Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State. 1981. pp. 6, 15.
  4. ^ "Relation: Somali Region (1707658)". OpenStreetMap. 2024-02-29.
  5. ^ "Ethiopia Country Analysis Brief". Energy Information Administration. Archived from the original on 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  6. ^ Bamberger, Jakob Grandjean; Skovsted, Kristian (2016). Concessions and Conflicts: Mapping Oil Exploration in Somalia and Ethiopia (Report). Danish Institute for International Studies. pp. 21–25.