Jijiga

Jijiga is located 628 km east of Addis Ababa, close to the Somalia border. It presently serves as the capital of the Somali Regional government. The official language is Somalae, but Oromiffa, Guragigna and Amharic are also spoken. Based on figures from Central Statistical Agency in 2005, the town has an estimated population of 98,076.
The formal existence of Jijiga as an urban center dates back to the late 19th century. However, the area where today’s town was founded was the watering point and pasture area for the surrounding nomadic people.