Bay, Somalia
Region of Somalia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bay (Somali: Baay, Arabic: باي,) is an administrative region (gobol) in southern Somalia within the Southwest state.[5]
Bay
Bai | |
|---|---|
| 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 km2 (13,574 sq mi) |
| Population (2019[2]) | |
• Total | 1,560,900 |
| • Density | 44.399/km2 (114.99/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| ISO 3166 code | SO-BY[3] |
| HDI (2021) | 0.294[4] low · 15th of 18 |
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 Ethiopian military and the Islamic Courts Union.[6]
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.[7]
Districts
Bay Region consists of Seven districts:[8]
- Baidoa District
- Burhakaba District
- Dinsoor District
- Qansahdhere District
- Berdale District
- Idale District
- Doolondoole District