Jijiga or Jigjiga is a city in Eastern Ethiopia.
Understand
[edit]Jijiga has been the capital of the Somali region since 1995. It is one of the few places where the government of Ethiopia fully controls.
Get in
[edit]- 1 Jijiga Airport (JIJ IATA). The airport is east of the town.The Ethiopian Airlines office in Jijiga is a little tricky to find but pretty much as Google maps shows. On the southwest corner of the intersection with Mohammed Abdullah Hassan equestrian statue is a multistorey commercial building with distinctive blue windows - head west from there about 200 metres to a small pink and white semi circular shopping centre.
- Mini buses leave regularly for the 90 minute journey from the minibus station in Harar. They will drop you at your Hotel if you are on the A10.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]Jijiga is home to dozens of mosques.
Do
[edit]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.
- Despite what the locals say it is a pleasant excursion to walk through the shops and markets to the historic Fooq Dheere building. With luck you might see a real camel caravan.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Livestock Market.
Eat
[edit]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), ☏ +251 91 575 4466. 24 Hours. A popular-well lighted place visited by families. No printed menu but you'll get the idea by looking around or from pictures on the wall. Hummus, shawarma, fries,, pizza, juices. The restaurant is a well-stocked bakery too with baklava and other treats. It can be tricky to land a table but the manager will pull out a small plastic table and chairs if needed. Pay at the counter.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]There are dozens of hotels in Jijiga
- ZM International Hotel, A 10 Highway (just East of the Mohammed Abdullah Hassan statue), ☏ +251 252780703, +251 915741439. Great rooms, good meals. pity price is high. The Hotel does not take much notice of emails better to ring. 2,000Birr per double.
- Istanbul Hotel, Kabale 04 (Main East-West drag) (near the ZM Hotel. As of Mar 2022, appears on Google Maps as "Stanbul Hotel". Google maps lands "Istanbul" on a nearby incorrect N-S road), ☏ +251 973814125. The Istanbul is a comfortable, clean multi-storied option. The lobby and outdoor front patio is a popular place to drink tea and watch soccer. Hotel did not respond to emails or website form inquiries so have a local friend arrange your stay or just show up (several other hotels are nearby if this is full).