Azania (Somalia)

Azania Azania (Somali) أزانيا  (Arabic)
Flag
Capital	Dhobley Garbahare
Largest city	Dhobley, Jamame, Kismayo
Official languages	Somali Arabic
Demonym(s)	Somali
Government	Presidential democracy
• President	Mohamed Abdi Mohamed Gandhi
Establishment
• Proclaimed	3 April 2011
• Dissolved	15 May 2013
Currency	Somali shilling (SOS)
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (not observed)
Calling code	+252 (Somalia)
ISO 3166 code	SO
Internet TLD	.so
Preceded by Succeeded by Jubaland Jubaland
The map shows the territories (blue) claimed by Azania.

Azania (Somali: Azaaniya, Arabic: أزانيا), officially the Republic of Azania (Somali: Dawladda Azaaniya), was a self-proclaimed autonomous state of Jubaland in southern Somalia that existed from 2011 to 2013. A group of Somali politicians proclaimed the creation of Azania on 3 April 2011 in Nairobi, with Mohamed Abdi Mohamed as its President. The state's main intentions were to contest al-Shabaab, which largely controlled Jubaland.

The Government of Kenya supported the creation of Azania to create a buffer state between Kenya and Somalia, and to train and legitimize Azanian militias to fight against al-Shabaab in Jubaland. Kenya further launched Operation Linda Nchi in October 2011, sending in the Kenya Defence Forces to combat al-Shabaab in Jubaland.

Various players in Jubaland, contested the Government of Azania's legitimacy. Azania had little de facto control over its territory between al-Shabaab, Kenya, and other Somali militias. Azania disappeared from notice after delegates formed a new Jubaland government on 15 May 2013, with Raskamboni Movement leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe as President.