Ogaden

Ogaden (pronounced and often spelled Ogadēn; Ogaadeen, ውጋዴ/ውጋዴን) is one of the historical names given to the modern Somali Region, the territory comprising the eastern portion of Ethiopia formerly part of the Hararghe province. The other two names are the Haud and Reserved area. The origin of the term Ogaden is unknown, however it is usually attributed to the Somali clan of the same name, originally referring only to their land, and eventually expanding to encompass most parts of the modern Somali Region of Ethiopia. During the new region's founding conference, which was held in Dire Dawa in 1992, the naming of the region became a divisive issue, because almost 30 Somali clans live in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The ONLF sought to name the region ‘Ogadenia’, whilst the non-Ogadeni Somali clans who live in the same region opposed this move. As noted by Abdul Majid Hussein, the naming of the region where there are several Somali clans as ‘Ogadenia’ following the name of a single clan would have been divisive. Finally, the region was named the Somali region. An alternative (possibly folk) etymology analyses the name as a combination of the Harari word ūga ("road") and Aden, a city in Yemen, supposedly deriving from an ancient caravan route through the region connecting Harar to the Arabian Peninsula. The inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Somalis, of almost 30 clans. The Ogaden (clan) of the Darod constitute one of the majority in the region, and were enlisted in the Ogaden National Liberation Movement, That is why the region is associated with the Ogaden Clan. However, this is disputed. Other Somali clans in the region are Sheekhaal, Isaaq, Geri Koombe Gadabuursi, Issa, Massare, Gabooye, Degodia and Jidle and Karanle clans of the Hawiye. There are few historical texts written about the people who lived in what is known today as the Somali Region, sometimes referred to as The 'Ogaden' region of Ethiopia. In its early history, The 'Ogaden' was inhabited by Harla, a now extinct people. Harla are linked to the Harari and Somali Ogaden clan.