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The Somali civil war began in 1988, and in 1991 a phenomenon occurred for the
first time that has been repeated many times since: Various states break away
from the Somali territory and declare themselves independent or autonomous.
The motives for this vary, often clans are behind the secession, or clan subgroups,
sometimes there is a religious motive, sometimes only local interests and sometimes
exile groups of Somalis living abroad are behind it. Some of these states probably
existed only on paper, some only for a short time, some felt connected to the
central government in Mogadishu in and recognised it. These phenomena eventually
led to the idea of transforming Somalia into a federal state, in which some of
these states found their place as federal states. The states listed here represent
only a fraction of what took place on the political stage. There is an extensive
collection on the portal "Flags of the World", please click here:
Flags of the World
The Horn of Africa, end of 2012:
Source: Freeware, University of Texas Libraries,
modyfied by: Volker Preuß
Flag of ASWJ,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: saripedia.wordpress.com
From 2006 to 2009 Ethiopia was engaged in the ongoing Somali civil war, especially to push back the "Union of Islamic Courts" (the later Al-Shabab militia) that had invaded Ethiopia. After the withdrawal of the Ethiopian troops, in the liberated areas on the border with Ethiopia, in the north of the provinces of Gedo, Bakool and Hiiraan, established themselves a moderate Islamic group called "ASWJ - Al Sunna wal Jamma". The ASWJ is loyal to the central government in Mogadishu.
Flag of Al-Shabaab,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)
The radical Islamist Al-Shabab militia went out in 2006 from the "Union of Islamic Courts". It controlled at times the entire southern Somalia, excluding the capital, Mogadishu. Through the intervention of troops from Kenya and Ethiopia the Al-Shabab militia was suppressed. The Al-Shabab militia recognizes not the central government in Mogadishu.
Source: Wikipedia (D)
Flag of Awdal,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: saripedia.wordpress.com
In the west of the today's Somaliland lives the Somali Clan of the Issa, especially the subgroup of the Dir. The Dir proclaimed in 1995 the Republic of Awdal, as a separation from the by the Ishaak Clan controlled Somaliland. The name is reminiscent to the Adal Sultanate, which existed in the region in the 15th and 16th century.
Source: Wikipedia (D)
2011–2013
2012
Flags of Azania,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)
From 2010 the Al-Shabab Militia in southern Somalia (Jubaland) came under pressure. Because of this Somali politicians founded in Nairobi on 3rd of April in 2011 the Republic of Azania, which claimed the Jubaland. The Republic of Azania is loyal to the central government in Mogadishu. In October 2011 invaded Kenyan troops in Jubaland during the fight against al-Shabab Militia and pushed it back. From the made territorial gains profited the Republic of Azania, what was in the interests of Kenya too. Since 2012, Azania calls itself officially Jubaland too, and they adopted a new flag in 2013. In 2013, the state became a federal constituent state of the newly proclaimed Federal Republic of Somalia. See also → Jubaland.
Source: Wikipedia (EN)
2013,
Flag of Baraaweland,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: baraawelandstategov.wordpress.com
Baraaweland is located about 200 km southwest of the capital Mogadishu. In 2013 the area was under the control of the Al-Shabab Militia. The real existence of the country, and also the relationships to the central government in Mogadishu are currently unknown.
2013,
Flag of Ceelbaraf,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: www.facebook.com/ceelbarafstate.state
The location of Ceelbaraf, the real existence of the country, and also the relationships to the central government in Mogadishu are currently unknown.
2006–2009,
Flag of Galmudug,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)
The name "Galmudug" is a composition of the names of the both most important regions of the country: Galguduud and Mudug. The State of Galmudug was proclaimed on 14th of August in 2006 by the council of the elder of the Sacad-Clan. Mohammed Warsame Ali was nominated to president. In November 2006 Puntland – to which Galmudug hitherto belonged – withdrawed its troops from the region. After that Galmugug was endangered by troops of the radical-islamic "Union of Islamic Courts", which became striked back under support of troops of Ethiopia and Puntland in November and December 2006. Galmudug was loyal to the central government in Mogadishu. In 2012, the state became a federal constituent state of the newly proclaimed Federal Republic of Somalia. A new flag was adopted in 2009, 2010 and most recently in 2015. See also → Galmudug.
Source: Wikipedia (EN)
2016,
Flag of Ganaane,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: www.idalenews.com
The location of Ganaane, the real existence of the country, and also the relationships to the central government in Mogadishu are currently unknown.
Flag of Hiiraan,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: springtimeofnations.blogspot.com
The Hiiraan State is an attempt to transform the Province of Hiiraan into a State. The state with its capital in Belet Wen is actually placed north of Mogadishu, on the border to Ethiopia. The Province of Hiiraan was in 2013 under the control of the ASWJ-Militia and the al-Shabab Militia and belongs today to the federal state of Hirshabelle.
Flag of Jubaland,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: springtimeofnations.blogspot.com
Since the outbreak of the civil war in Somalia was Jubaland - the area west of the river Juba - a hard-fought territory, that was conquered in 1993 by the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM). The SPM proclaimed in 1998 the Independent State of Jubaland. The SPM recognized not the central government in Mogadishu. In 1999, the SPM was expelled by the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA). In 1999, the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) brought the Jubaland State under their control. From 2001, the JVA remained loyally to the central government in Mogadishu, the state adopted even the Somali flag. The JVA was expelled in 2006 by the "Union of Islamic Courts' (the later Al-Shabab Militia). Under the above flag try Somali exilants in USA and Canada to gain influence in Jubaland. The actual existence of the country, and also the relationships to the central government in Mogadishu are currently unknown. Jubaland became in 2013 a federal constituent state of the newly proclaimed Federal Republic of Somalia and a new flag was adopted. See also → Jubaland.
Source: Wikipedia (D)
2011,
Flag of Jubba Raas,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World
The country's name suggests that it is placed somewhere in Jubaland. The area now belongs to the state of Jubaland.
2012–2017,
Flag of Khatumo,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World
since 2023,
Flag of Khatumo,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)
The territory of Khatumo actually belongs to the State of Somaliland, which is controlled by Ishaak clan. In the east, however, live members of the Darod clan, the Dolbohanta, which seceded from Somaliland, and founded ca. 2011/2012 their own state, which lies in the west of the Somali province Nugal. Khatumo state dissolved in 2017, and was formed again in 2023, with fighting breaking out with the Somaliland army.
Flags of Maakhir,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D), World Statesmen
The territory of Maakhir actually belongs to the State of Somaliland, which is controlled by Ishaak clan. In the east, however, live members of the Darod clan, the Warsangeli, which seceded from Somaliland in 2007 and had established their own state in the east of the Somali province of Sanaag. The State of Puntland (Darod clan) laid claims to the territory. The Somali central government never recognized the state as an autonomous state within Somalia. In 2009 the Maakhir State joined to the State of Puntland. See also → Maakhir.
Source: Wikipedia (D)
2012,
Flag of Mareeg,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: www.duhur.com
The Abgal-Subgroup of the Hawiye-Clan proclaimed ca. 2012 in the south of the Province of Galguduud the Mareeg State. Capital is Ceeldheer. The region was in 2013 under the control of the Al-Shabab Militia. The area now belongs to the state of Galmudug.
since 2009,
Flag of Puntland,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)
The State of Puntland was established in 1998 under the impact of the flaring up civil war in Somalia, in the provinces of Bari, Eastern Nugal and Northern Mudug. Apparently they used the opportunity to separate a Somali state of the Darod clan from the chaos of the clan war in the decaying Somalia, while continuing the tradition of Somalia. Therefore spoke, that Puntland called itself as the first Somali State "Puntland - State of Somalia". Puntland is a presidial republic and has its own parliament and its own senate. At times Puntland was loyal to the central government in Mogadishu and Puntland merely demanded autonomy. See also → Puntland.
Flag of Raskamboni,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)
From 2010 the Al-Shabab Militia in southern Somalia (Jubaland) came under pressure, and in October 2011, invaded Kenyan troops in Jubaland during the fight against al-Shabab Militia, and pushed back the Al-Shabab Militia together with the newly formed Raskamboni militia. The area now belongs to the state of Jubaland.
Source: Wikipedia (EN)
Flag of Salal,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: w.ethnia.org
Salal was to 2019 a separate region and administrative unit in the far northwest of Somaliland. What the "State of Salal" is all about is not known.
Source: Volker Preuß
2010/2011,
Flag of Somali Central State,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: www.allgedo.com
Somali Central State was obviously a short-lived project around the years 2010 or 2011. The area now belongs to the federal state of Galmudug.
Source: Volker Preuß
Flag of Somaliland,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)
The Somali Civil War began in 1988, and Somalia began to descend into chaos. Therefore in May 1991 the State of Somaliland separated under the Ishaak clan from Somalia. The state expands exactly this territory, which became granted independence by the
United Kingdom in June 1960, and which was forcibly united with former Italian Somaliland in July 1960. Somaliland could thus escape from the war and turn into a prosperous region, but which is internationally not recognized. The regions of Maakhir and Khatumo were lost temporarily. Somaliland sees itself as a completely independent and does not recognize the central government in Mogadishu. See also → Somaliland.
Source: Wikipedia (D)
2002–2006,
Flag of Southwest Somalia,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: World Statesmen
today,
Flag of Southwest Somalia,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: World Statesmen
The state of Southwest Somalia was proclaimed by the Rahanweyn clan in April 2002. In 2005, the Somali central government fled to the capital Baidoa and the state ended. Under changing leadership and with ever-changing flags, South West State managed to keep alive as a political project, culminating in the state becoming a federal constituent state of the newly proclaimed Federal Republic of Somalia in 2014 (Somali name: Koonfur Galbeed).
Source: Volker Preuß, World Statesmen, Wikipedia (EN)
Flag of Udubland,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World
Udubland was apparently a short-lived project around 2010 or 2011. The area now belongs to the States of Galmudug and Hirshabelle.
Source: Volker Preuß, Flags of the World
Flag of the Waax & Waadi State,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World
Waax & Waadi State was a short-lived project in southern Somalia.
Source: Volker Preuß, Flags of the World
