Somalia has a mapping problem. A single map that 100% correctly portrays Somalia doesn't exist.

[Gubbet]

Disclaimer: This doesn't concern theoretical arguments or political objectives that should or should not happen (i e. Somaliland is seperate, etc).I am talking Somalia as recognized right now with both international as well as domestic borders.

You would be shocked to know there is not a single version of the variations that accurately 100% represents Somalia.

There is a deficiency in all of the variations including the variation that comes the closest (OpenStreetMap).

To make a long story short, of all the variations, 3 are the most prominent in use and summarize the main representations.

1. The Google map variation.

2. The variation used by OpenStreetMap.

3. The UNOCHA variation.

Keep in mind, "representation" is portrayal of politically accepted understanding.

For example; "Caabudwaaq" and "Goldagob" are part of Somalia. A border is not an "instituting" function; it is an "instituted" function. Basically both Somalia and Ethiopia are in agreement that Caabudwaaq and Goldagob are part of Somalia and have expressed this agreement in deed and action. Local administrations are entities under Somalia and even in the 90's civil war and state disintegration, Ethiopia never contested the administration of those localities.

So this is not about political theory, but politically accepted understanding when I say "representation."

There is not a single map, again, that 100% correctly represents Somalia.

This is profound.

Before I show what I mean, I wonder who can identify what I mean.

Btw of the 3 variations, I will go a head and hint 100% correct representation of Somalia can be derived uniting the two variations of OpenStreetMap and UNOCHA

[ReturnOfMariixmaan]

Not to sidetrack you but I hate the UN

[Gubbet]

Also, another hint.

Most people are aware of the border between Somalia and Ethiopia issue, but there are a lot of other problens that exist and present themselves among the different variations.

Along with the Ethio-Somalia issue, other discrepancies include the borders between;

1. All the regions of Somalia generally

But especially;

2. Bay and Bakool
3. Gedo and Middle Jubba
4. Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle
5. Mudug qnd Nugaal
6. Sool and Togdheer
7. Waqooyi Galbeed and Awdal

[Gubbet]

Not to sidetrack you but I hate the UN

Saddam, look at the town of "Adan Yabaal" (Hiiraan vs Middle Shabelle) and "Burtinle" (Nugaal vs Mudig) in the different variations and you will start noticing the huge mapping problem.

P.s Keep in mind, the political understanding is Adam Yabaal is Middle Shabelle and Burtinle is Nugaal.

[Gubbet]

To make a long story short, of all the variations, 3 are the most prominent in use and summarize the main representations.

1. The Google map variation.

2. The variation used by OpenStreetMap.

3. The UNOCHA variation.

[Gubbet]

Examples of how there is no variation that is 100%correct

The Google version is the least accurate of the 3 major variations and this is an example of the other 2 (OpenStreetMap and OCHA) in disagreement with Google while being in agreement with each other

According to Google, Burtinle is In Mudug

According to OSM and OCHA, Burtinle is in Nugaal.

Burtinle is politically accepted to be part of Nugaal



The following is am example of cases in which OSM and OCHA are in agreement, but also cases in whoch they are in disagreement

According to OSM AND OCHA in disagreement with Google, Bay has a dome into Bakool

Bay is politically accepted to portrude into Bakool

But in disagreement with each other Adan Yabaal is either in Hiiraan or Middle Shabelle

Adan Yabaal is politically accepted to be in Middle Shabelle

[BigBreak]

I don't accept the boundary between Somaliland's Sool region and Somalia's Nugaal region

[Gubbet]

BigBreak, I am afraid I only speak to how Somalia is represented as it is politically understood at the moment. I am aware there are possible adjudication and modifications pending.

For political understanding, one would be naturally taking guidance from how the currently recognized administrator of Somalia (the Federal Govt) recognizes Somalia's administration.

I made a region by region comparison between the 3 major variations to see how each region compares against itself between the variations.

[Gubbet]

As you can see "every" region----EVERY REGION----is portrayed differently between the variations.

There is not a "single" region that is portrayed 100% the same even in two of the variations let alone representated the same in all three variations.

This is why there is not a single map in existence that correctly portrays Somalia.

Every single variation has an issue.

However, a 100% accurate representation can be realized for the first time by uniting the OSM (openstreetmap) and the UNOCHA map.

[Gubbet]

As for what uniting the OSM and UNOCHA variations would look like, I would use Hiiraan and Galgaduud to make this point as perfect examples of how the two variations correct each other.

-OSM is blue solid line
-UNOCHA is red dotted line

In Hiiraan,

OSM corrects UNOCHA on the representation of the border as politically understood by both Ethiopia and Somalia.

UNOCHA corrects OSM on the placements of Gerijir (politically understood to be part of Hiiraan not Galgaduud) and Adan Yabaal (politically understood to be in Lower Shabelle not Hiiraan)



In Galgaduud,

OSM corrects UNOCHA on the representation of the border (Caabudwaaq, Xeraale, and Balanbale are politically understood by both Ethiopia and Somalia to be part of Somalia)

UNOCHA corrects OSM on the placement of Gerijir (politically understood to be part of Hiiraan not Galgaduud)

[Gubbet]

And thus we have a sample correct representation after harmonizing OSM and OCHA

[Kees70]

Gubbet, sxb you mind posting the truest Map for Somalia, since you say that ''100% accurate representation can be realized for the first time by uniting the OSM (openstreetmap) and the UNOCHA map''.

Cheers in advance

[Gubbet]

It doesn't exist. What I just did since BigBreak post is show what I mean by that.

I am using the 3 most frequently used variations of Somalia, as I explained in the beginning and those 3 variations I named them after entities they are most known for.

OSM or OpenStreerMap variation
Google variation
and UN OCHA who makes humanitarian maps

Rereas again especially last couple posts where I literally showed every single variation is off by something or a discrepancy that does not give a 100% accurate representation of Somalia.

In the post before yours, I showed how one can finally get a map that is 100% correct after uniting the two most accurate variations who largely agree with each other (OSM AND OCHA) by taking elements that are wrong (which exist in both maps) and replacing it with elements that are correct (which exist in both maps).

Because between OSM and OCHA, one can produce the most accurate presentation possible since together they contain 100% all the elements required.

Look at Gerijir, Hiiraan; Cabudwaq, Galgaduud; Adan Yabaal, Middle Shabelle.



OSM variation by itself nor OCHA variation by itself accurately reflect Hiiraan, Galgaduud, or Lower Shabelle.

But together they correct each other and 100% of the correct representation can be drawn.

So for example;

1. OSM is wrong on Adan Yabaal being in Hiiraan, but correct on the border.
2. OCHA is wrong on the border, but correct on Adan Yabaal not being in Hiiraan.

3. You take OSM border + OCHA on Adan Yabaal and you have a correct representation of Hiiraan on those two points

And

1. OSM is wrong on Gerijir being in Galgaduud, but correct on Caabudwaaq being in Galgagaduud on the border.

2. OCHA is wrong on Caabudwaaq not being in Galgaduud, but correct on Gerijir not being in Galgaduud.

3. You take OSM Caabudwaaq border with Ethiopia + OCHA Gerijir border with Hiiran and you get a correct 100% representation of Galgaduud.

[Gubbet]

Unless Kees was asking me to make that map myself for the first time?

Nigga dat aint free.

[ReturnOfMariixmaan]

Unless Kees was asking me to make that map myself for the first time?

Nigga dat aint free.

Nothing written but memorized is worth a Ugaas’s fee