Townapedia

Jijiga, Ethiopia

ጅጅጋ

Jijiga is a regional capital of 483,000 people in Somali, Ethiopia.

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Population483,000 GeoNames
Local nameጅጅጋ
RegionSomali
Elevation1,646 m 5,400 ft
Time zoneAfrica/Addis Ababa
Land area223.0 km²
Nearest airportJigjiga Gerad Wilwal Airport (JIJ) 12 km

Why visit Jijiga

Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 2 parks and trails, 15 places to eat, 26 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Jijiga University.

About Jijiga

Jijiga (Somali: Jigjiga, Amharic: ጅጅጋ, romanized: 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.

From the Wikipedia article Jijiga (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Jijiga on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do4

Jijiga University

School · 3.6 km

University in Ethiopia

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Arbeeko

Scenic view · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps

Old Al Amir cinema

Cinema and theater

Open in Google Maps

Shinbir

Scenic view · 2.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks1

babi

Monument and historic site · 0.7 km

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Parks, trails and playgrounds2

Jigjiga Stadium

Sports field and stadium · 1.0 km

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Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan Memorial Park

Park

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Restaurants and cafes15

Haskin Restaurant

Restaurant · African, Ethiopian

Jijiga

Mo-Su 06:00-00:00

Open in Google Maps · 00251

Maandeeq Restaurant

Restaurant · Fish And Chips, Diner, Pasta, Fish, Chicken, Breakfast

Ararso Street

Mo-Su 07:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +251915176030

Shaaha Ninka

Cafe · Tea

Wadada Shiinaha

Mo-Su 05:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps

Barakat Restaurant

Restaurant

Mo-Su 10:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +251915752666

Rotana Cafe and Guest House

Restaurant · 1.3 km

Mo-Su 06:00-00:00

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Al-Jazeera

Restaurant · Somali

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Woldemedhin Kelbe Restaurant

Restaurant · Ethiopian

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Ekram

Restaurant · 3.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Fiiq Dheef Macaan

Restaurant

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Hadh Wanaag

Restaurant · 0.6 km

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Hersi Cafeteria

Cafe · 0.8 km

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Jemila Muslim Restaurant

Restaurant · 1.3 km

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3 more on the map.

History

The region around Jijiga is believed to be associated with the medieval Gidaya state which existed as early as thirteenth century. One of the earliest references to Jijiga comes from W.C. Barker in 1842 who mentions it as one of the mahalla or halting-places of the caravan route between Zeila and Harar within the Somali inhabited Ogaden (present day Somali Region). Jijiga was later mentioned by British traveler Richard Francis Burton in 1854, who reports that it was a centre of wells for pastoralists of the local Somali (Jidwaq) clan on the caravan route to Berbera. During the pre-colonial era the Ogaden was neither under Ethiopian rule, nor terra nullius, as it was occupied by organized Somali communities. Independent historical accounts are unanimous that previous to the penetration into the region in the late 1880s, Somali clans were free of residing in the Ogaden were free of the control of the Ethiopian Empire.

From the History section of Jijiga on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay26

Churches and places of worship18

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Shopping8

Gas and EV charging3

Schools, colleges and libraries8

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Healthcare11

Map of Jijiga

96 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Jigjiga Gerad Wilwal Airport (JIJ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 km away.

  • Chinahsen 27 km northwest, about 27 min by car
  • Gedeb 49 km northeast, about 49 min by car
  • Babīlē 53 km west, about 53 min by car
  • Funyan Bīra 53 km west, about 53 min by car
  • Hartīshēk 64 km east, about 1 h by car
  • Felana 69 km west, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Harar 75 km west, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Ārabī 76 km northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • ‘Alemaya 87 km west, about 1 h 30 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.