Thread by @thebhlub

#Thread 👇

#Puntland region of Somalia is the only entity that demands establishment of clan borders in the Horn of Africa.

#Somaliland, #Ethiopia, #Djibouti and even #Somalia reject ethnic borders, so why does PL insist?

The answer lies in #Puntland's demographic problem.

It appears that in the absence of reliable census data post the Somali civil war, #Puntland has managed to successfully inflate their population figures in published estimates by various orgs.

In reality, this region has always been the most sparsely inhabited area in the horn..

For starters, the region we refer to as #Puntland today was historically known as #Majeerteenia pre and immediately post the union of #Somaliland and #Somalia.

Majeerteenia (#Puntland) has always been the least populated region of the former Italian colony of Somalia Italiana. Even following independence and union of #Somaliland and #Somalia, Majeerteenia was still the least populated region, due primarily climate and geography.

For the purposes of this thread, we will only be looking at official census data by both Italy (during colonial era) and Somali Republic (post independence).

Starting in the official census of 1931. The Italians recorded that Majeerteenia's population as 48,633, of a total population in Somalia Italiana of 1,021,572.

i.e. Majeerteenia (#Puntland) made ~ 4.8% of the total population of Somalia (pre union). Remember this %.

The first census post union was in 1963. Majeerteenia (#Puntland) is the least populated region of the country at 111,000 of a total population of 2,303,000.

This is equivalent to 4.8% of the total population (rings a bell? Hint: see 1931 above).

Before delving into the last census, please note that Majeerteenia was administratively divided into two regions: Bari and Nugaal.

When Nugaal was first created, it incorporates parts of the region of Sool as well, as can be seen in the map.

So, with that in mind, we arrive at the last census prior to the Somali civil war, this was conducted in 1975 (there was an estimate made in 1980, also included).

Majertenia (Bari + (Nugaal+Sool)) now respectively make up 4.4% and 2.2% of total population of the Somali Republic

... Thats 6.6% combined. The 1.8% increase from the previous 4.8% (in the 1931 and 1963 data) is explained by the addition of Sool region to Nugaal.

Otherwise the population of the #Puntland (Majeerteenia) would fall to the usual figure of ~5%.

It appears that in the absence of any new census data since 1975, #Puntland took liberties to inflate the figures it presents to international organisations.

No other explanation of consistent historic low figures in 1931, 1963 and 1975 suddenly changing post civil war.

Thus by taking advantage of lack of authentic census data, #Puntland has successfully managed to boost its place within a federal #Somalia.

The lack in demographic mass also necessitated the claiming of clan borders to incorporate parts of E. Sool, E. Sanaag and N. Mudug. END