Harardhere (, ) is a historic town in the Mudug province of Somalia. It is situated in the autonomous Galmudug state and serves as the capital of the Harardhere District.

History

The town was controlled by the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group al-Shabaab from at least 2012 to 2023. In 2018, a US airstrike killed 60 al-Shabaab fighters at a training camp in a rural area outside the town. On 16 January 2023, the town was recaptured by the Somali Armed Forces.

Demographics

As of 2005, Harardhere had a population of around 65,543 inhabitants. As with most of Galmudug, it is primarily inhabited by Somalis from the Hiraab sub-clan of the Hawiye.

Notable residents

• Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, second president of Somalia

• Daud Abdulle Hirsi, first Somali Armed Forces commander

• Mohamed Abshir Muse, first Somali Police Force commander

• Salaad Gabeyre Kediye, former Somali senior military commander

• Ahmed Mohamed Jimale, former Chief of staff of Somalia National Army

• Mahad Karate, deputy emir and leader of Al-Shabaab Aminayat

References