Beledhawo
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Beled Hawo Buulo Xaawo |
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|---|---|
 Beled Hawo
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| Coordinates: 3°55′43″N 41°52′34″E / 3.92861°N 41.87611°ECoordinates: 3°55′43″N 41°52′34″E / 3.92861°N 41.87611°E | |
| Country |
 Somalia
|
| Region | Gedo |
| District | Beled Hawo |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Yussuf Kaante |
| • Deputy Mayor | Nuune Khan |
| Population | |
| • Total | 400,000 est. |
| Time zone | East Africa Time (UTC+3) |
| Website | baladxaawo.com |
Beled Hawo (Somali: Beledxaawo or Buuloxaawo) is the largest city in Gedo, the largest province in Somalia situated in the southwestern part of the country. The town is also the headquarters of Beled Hawo District, which, like most other districts in the region, is named after its principal town.
Beled Hawo was founded in 1910 by Xaawo Cismaan Gurey, a woman from whom the town's name is ultimately derived. Beled Hawo literally means "City of Xawo" in Somali. Also Xawa Samater Aaamin who was then the wife of a Somali soldier, Farax Looyaan, who was based in the Mandhera District of what was then the Northern Frontier District (NFD).
The town was completely rebuilt in the early 1960s, after the British had burned down its original structures. It is situated strategically where Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia where three borders meet together
Beled Hawo replaced Garbaharey as the capital of the Gedo region in 1985. The border with the Ogaden and the NFD, as well as its close proximity to Kismaayo brought wealth into the city, which made it grow dramatically. Beled Hawo then became Gedo's second largest town after Baardheere, and one of the most important cities in Somalia. Songs and plays have been dedicated to the city by many well-known Somali artists, praising its natural scenery and its hospitable and generous residents.
As of 2016, Beled Hawo had a population of around 300,254 inhabitants. The broader Beled Hawo District has a total population of 750,000 residents.. Beled Hawo is primarily inhabited by people from the Somali ethnic group, with the Marehan especially well-represented.
Public transportation is through public buses or blue and white share taxis, locally known as "white horses" or faras cadeyaal (in Somali). The taxis are usually minibuses that can sit at least twelve people and small sedans imported from Japan. Two people are responsible for each taxi, the driver and a Kirishboy (Garage Boy in English) who collects fares and calls out the taxi's destination.
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Wikipedia