Bardere

Bardere باردير Bardhere
City
Bardere باردير Location within Somalia Show map of Somalia Bardere باردير Location within the Horn of Africa Show map of Horn of Africa Bardere باردير Location within Africa Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 2°20′N 42°17′E / 2.333°N 42.283°E / 2.333; 42.283
Country	Somalia
State	Jubaland
Region	Gedo
District	Bardhere
Established	1700
Government
• Type	Mayor
• Bardere District Commissioner	Mohamed khadar Ahmed Derow
Area
• Land	15 km2 (5.8 sq mi)
• Water	5 km2 (1.9 sq mi)  8%
• Urban	15 km2 (5.8 sq mi)
• Metro	45 km2 (17 sq mi)
Elevation	168 m (551 ft)
Population
• Estimate	between 5,000 and 10,000
• Density	26/km2 (67/sq mi)
	2021 estimate
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)

Bardere (Arabic: باردير, Somali: Bardhere, Italian: Bardera) also known as Bardera, is a city in Jubaland State of Somalia. It is the second most populous city in the region.^{[irrelevant citation]} Bardere sits on the Jubba River around 250 km west of the city of Baidoa and is in a highland area with fertile soil.^{[irrelevant citation]}

Etymology

Bardera is an important agricultural centre living up to its name Bar meaning “palm tree”, and Dhere meaning “tall” a reference to the ubiquitous palm trees that have grown expansively in the area.^{[irrelevant citation]}

The river banks are lined by palm trees and so are the farms of this town that lies at an intersection of all major roads that links Somalia to Elwak and Mandera in Kenya, Kismayo, Baidoa, Barawe and Dinsoor within Somalia.^{[irrelevant citation][irrelevant citation]}

History

Early Modern

Bardera continued its agricultural and commercial legacy under Geledi Sultanate rule where it was surrounded by a citadel. Both the Benadir ports and Bardera flourished thanks an increased connection between the coast and interior. The city served as the key ivory hub in the southern part of the Horn.

In the 1830s, a new militant extremist group rose in the citadel of Bardera, overlooking the Jubba River. The group began imposing their interpretation of Islam on the surrounding regions, including the coastal city of Barawa, which they subdued and captured in 1840. In response, Sultan Yusuf Mahamud gathered his armies into a coalition and marched towards Bardera. The citadel was besieged and then burned to the ground, solidifying Sultan Yusuf's paramount authority in southern Somalia. Following the Conquest of Bardera, the city recovered and remained relatively quiet until the eventual end of the Geledi Sultanate and subsequent incorporation into Italian Somaliland.

Economy

The economy of Bardera is largely agriculture-based. Animal husbandry also figures prominently, with livestock being kept for meat, milk and butter.

Agriculture

There are two types of farming which exist in Bardera area: Irrigated farming and seasonal farming.

Many medium- and small-scale farms near the river use water pumping machines. These motors irrigate the land with canals, and farmers plant crops.

The majority of farmers use a low-tech farming method of farming during the two rainy seasons. Small operation farms are found throughout Jubaland, far away from the river banks where families plant sorghum, maize, and beans on any land that is suitable for farming.

Mogadishu's fruit and vegetable market used to have a section containing a famous onion product from Bardera. Since the start of the civil war in Somalia, produce from Bardera to large urban centers like Mogadishu, Kismayo, or Baidoa were diverted to Kenyan markets such as Wajir, Garissa, Mombasa, and Nairobi.

The district has a long serving Chamber of Commerce led by Bashir Noor Ahmed as its Chairman. The Chamber of Commerce works to ensure there are markets available for local agricultural products and animals.

Sorghum, corn or maize, different types of onions, beans, sesame, tobacco, and fruits such as bananas, watermelon, oranges, papayas, and mangoes from Bardera farms reach markets as far as Djibouti, about 3,000 km away to the north of Somalia.

Education

Bardera has long been a center of higher learning. The city is famously associated with the study of Islamic jurisprudence.

Bardera's Islamic centers attracted students seeking knowledge and teachers seeking employment used to come from across Somalia. Bardera has 20 elementary schools, seventeen primary and secondary schools. Bardera polytechnic college was founded in July 2008. This college was established to cover the higher education needs of the Bardera area community, which has been growing since the start of the 1990s. The college aims to give vocational training and marketable skills to people between 16 and 60 years of age.

Juba Valley Agricultural Institute is an academic institute within the Bardera Polytechnic College in Bardera, Somalia. It is situated within the southern Jubaland.

Juba Valley Veterinary Institute is a veterinary institute in Bardera, Somalia. The institute is part of Bardera Polytechnic specialized schools and institutes within the college system.

Both Juba Valley Agricultural Institute and Jubba Valley Veterinary institute were part of the second phase of development at Bardera Polytechnic.

For centuries, students traveled from distances and from all points on the Horn as a whole.

Later generations found different kind of class spaces at Somali National University (SNU), Lafole, Lafole Agricultural College and Sidam management training school.

Geography

Bardera is situated 2-3 degrees latitude north of the equator and at a longitude of 42-43 degrees.

Photos

Notable people

Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, Former Prime minister of Somalia.

Farah Hussein Sharmarke, Philosopher, Poet.

Fatimo Isaak Bihi, First Somali female ambassador, Ambassador to Geneva, Director of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Aden Ibrahim Aw Hirsi, Author, Somali Politician.

Ahmed Warsame, Head of the Somali Military Academy.

Mohamud Ali Magan, Somali Foreign Affairs, Consul General to United States Of America and Canada.

Ali shire Warsame, Somali Politician

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bardera.

• Bardhere city portal (in Somali)