Beled Haawo

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official_name = Beled Hawa
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native_name = (Buulo Xaawo)
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pushpin_map_caption =Location in Somalia
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|Somalia
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Gedo
subdivision_type2 = District
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leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Ahmed Mohamed Yusuf
leader_title1 = Deputy Mayor
leader_name1 = Ahmed Aden Iriri
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population_total =73,000 est.
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latd=3.5|latm=21|lats=|latNS=N
longd=41.5|longm=16|longs=|longEW=E
timezone =East Africa Time
utc_offset = +3
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Baled Hawo ( _so. "Beledxaawo" or "Buuloxaawo") is the second largest city in Gedo, the largest province in Somalia situated in the south western part of the country. It has a major international airport. The city is the centre of the business and trade in the region. The original name is Buuloxaawo which means "Hut of Hawo", in honour of its first resident. The town is also the headquarters of Buuloxaawo District which, like most other districts in Gedo, is named after its chief town.

History

Baled Xawo was founded in 1910 by a woman by the named of Xaawo Aaden Samater (Xaawo Jagaac), the wife of a Somali soldier (Khalif Shire) based across the border in Mandhera District in Kenya at the time. It was named after Xawo Aden, the first and longest resident of the town. The name of the town literally means "City of Xawo" in Somali.

It was totally rebuilt in the early 1960s after the British burned the original town to ground.

Baled Hawo replaced Garbaharey as the capital of Gedo region in 1985. The border with Kenya and Ethiopia and its close proximity to Kismaayo brought wealth into the city, which made it grow dramatically. It then became Gedo's second largest town after Baardheere and one of the most important cities in Somalia. Songs and plays have been dedicated to the city by many well known Somali artists, praising its natural scenery and hospital and generous residents.

Transportation

Public transportation is through public buses or blue and white share taxis, locally known as "white horses" or faras cadeyaal (in Somali). The taxis are usually minibuses that can sit at least twelve people and small sedans imported from Japan. Two people are responsible for each taxi, the driver and a Kirishboy (Garage Boy in English) who collects fares and calls out the taxi's destination.

The town is served by a makeshift, where a new paved landing opened in 2004. The old makeshift airport in the western district is used mostly by small craft and carrier jets. Neighboring cities in the region include Garbaharey, Luuq, Doollow, and Dhamasa.

Governance

Ahmed Mohamed Yusuf, better known as Burkuus is the current Balad Hawo county chief or Gudoomiye in Somali. Burkuus's Balad Hawo district administration has established good working relations in the neighboring Somali populated Kenyan district of Mandhera. The administration has continued to negotiate the free movement of goods and people between the two border towns Balad Hawo, Somalia and Mandera, Kenya. There thousands of students who pass through border patrol each morning and make their journey back homes at the end of the day.