Jijiga
Jijiga is the capital city of Somali Region, Ethiopia.
It became the capital of the Somali Region in 1995 after it was moved from Gode. Located in the Fafan Zone with 75 km (37 mi) west of the border with Somaliland, the city has an elevation of 1,634 metres above sea level. Jigjiga is traditionally the seat of the Bartire Garad Wiil-Waal of the Jidwaaq Absame. The International airport is named after him.
Getting to Jijiga
- 01Jijiga Airport
The Ethiopian Airlines office in Jijiga is a little tricky to find but pretty much as Google maps shows.
Worth seeing
Jijiga is home to dozens of mosques. There is the Jeel Ogaden Prison Museum, a former prison where atrocities were committed by the Abdi Iley regime, but as of 2025 the guard says it requires "permission from the government" for foreigners to enter, which translated means foreigners can't enter.
Things to do
The locals will assure you that there is nothing to see or do in Jijiga. It is true that the drive to Jijiga from Harar is a highlight. The road traverses dry semi arid valleys adorned with large boulders and stones. On the way you pass what appears to be a refugee camp - a reminder that the Ogaden Desert and the civil wars of Somalia are not far away.
- 01Livestock Market
Where to eat
There are numerous modern cafes and restaurants. This is a great place to sample Somali food. The Maamuus Café in the shopping centre that houses the Ethiopian Airlines office has all manner of coffee and pizzas. Mahuraan Bakery, Unnamed Street SW quadrant from the Muhammad Abdula roundabout (walk a few blocks southwest of the roundabout; the bakery is well-lit and hard to miss),. 24 Hours.
Getting around Jijiga the local way
- Get in}} Mini buses leave regularly for the 2-2.5 hour journey from the minibus station in Harar.
From Wikivoyage: Jijiga, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-08.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Abdirahman Isak Aden (CC BY 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.