Jubaland

Jubaland (Somali: Jubbaland; Arabic: جوبالاند; Italian: Oltregiuba), or the Juba Valley (Somali: Dooxada Jubba), is a federal member state in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies no more than 100 km (60 mi) east of the Jubba River, stretching from Dolow to the Indian Ocean, while its western side flanks the North Eastern Province in Kenya, which was carved out of Jubaland during the colonial period.

Jubaland has a total area of 110,293 km² (42,584 sq mi). As of 2005, it had a total population of 953,045 inhabitants.. The largest city is Kismayo, which is situated on the coast. Bardhere, Luuq, and Beled Haawo are the region's other principal settlements. Other cities such as Jamame and Jilib are currently occupied by Al-Shabaab.

During the Middle Ages, the influential Somali Ajuran Sultanate held sway over the territory, followed in turn by the Geledi Sultanate. They were later incorporated into British East Africa. In 1925, Jubaland was ceded to Italy, forming a part of Italian Somaliland. On 1 July 1960, the region, along with the rest of Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland, became part of the independent Somali Republic.

During the Middle Ages, the influential Somali Ajuran Empire held sway over the territory now known as Ajuran, followed in turn by the Geledi Sultanate during the early modern period. From 1836 until 1861, parts of Jubaland were nominally claimed by the Sultanate of Muscat (now in Oman).

In 1819–23, Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan and his companions founded the fortified town of Bardheere. In the early 19th century the Sheikh of the town launched a Jihad against the Oromos to reclaim the lands they had taken previously. This would be the start of a reconquest spanning a century, where with the addition of the invading Daroods from the Ogaadeen, Marexan, and Aulihan clans, would ally with the Somalis in NFD, winning numerous campaigns, battles, skirmishes, and victories. Which secured the NFD and Jubaland, restored land which belonged to the Somali clans prior to the Oromo invasions, alongside pushing the Oromos out of southern Somalia, and back towards the Tana river in Kenya.

The Geledi Sultanate that controlled this entire region later joined the Italian Somaliland protectorate after the Geledi ruler called Osman Ahmed signed multiple treaties with the colonial Italians.

Jubaland was subsequently ceded to Italy in 1924–25, as a reward for the Italians having joined the Allies in World War I, and had a brief existence as the Italian colony of Trans-Juba (Oltre Giuba) under governor (16 July 1924 – 31 December 1926) Corrado Zoli (1877–1951). Italy issued its first postage stamps for the territory on 29 July 1925, consisting of contemporary Italian stamps overprinted Oltre Giuba (Trans-Juba). Britain retained control of the southern half of the partitioned Jubaland territory, which was later called the Northern Frontier District (NFD).

Britain wanted to give Jubaland to Fascist Italy in exchange for returning the Italian Islands of the Aegean to Greece, but Benito Mussolini's government rejected the quid pro quo. After the Corfu incident, British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald decided to cede Jubaland unconditionally to the Italian colonial empire. Jubaland was then incorporated into neighbouring Italian Somaliland on 30 June 1926. The boundary with Kenya was settled by the Jubaland Commission and the Jubaland Boundary Commission.