Uways, emerged throughout southern Somalia and East Africa, establishing the Jama'a in the riverine region of southern Somalia and neighboring regions. These served as centres of charity and learning. Modern In addition to Sheikh Uways, Baraawe has produced numerous well-respected Ulama, including Sheikh Uways al-Barawi, Sheikh Nureini Ahmed Sabir, Sheikh Haji Sadiq, Sheikh Qassim al-Baraawi, Sheikh Mu'alim Nuuri, Sharif Qulatayn and a female poet-saint, Dada Masiti. The city was the stronghold of the Hizbiya Digil-Mirifle (HDM) party, which was founded in 1947; it later became the Hizb al-Dastuur Mustaqil al-Somali where the first Election has taken place in Mogadisho, Hisbia (Xisbiya) and has been elected as the leader of (HDMS) Jeilani Sheikh Bin Sheikh (Somali Independent Constitutional Party, HDMS). Barawa sharply declined after upgraded colonial infrastructure was added in Merca and Mogadishu. After independence the town was largely ignored by the Somali government. Following refugee resettlement programmes the town suffered as the new arrivals were unable to quickly adopt the culture of the city. Heritage was lost following the civil war which Mohammed Farah Aideed's militias looting the town. In 1997 it was incorporated into South West State of Somalia and rebuild would have ensued but the emergence of Al-Shabaab stalled this. In 2009, Al-Shabaab militants seized control of Barawa. In September of that year, a United States military raid in the area killed Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, a suspected Al-Qaeda operative. In October 2013, United States Navy SEAL Team Six launched an unsuccessful raid against a beachside house in Barawa, targeting Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, the leader of Al-Shabaab. Following the raid, al-Shabaab began a crackdown of the town. Following the launch of Operation Indian Ocean, the Somali Armed Forces assisted by AMISOM troops re-seized control of Barawa from Al-Shabaab in October 2014. On 11 October, during a trip to Barawa, President Hassan banned the charcoal trade in the city. Demographics Barawa has a population of around 260,800 inhabitants. The broader Barawa District has a total population of 350,800 residents. The town's majority inhabitants are the Tunni clan, a sub-group of Rahanweyn with a minority of residents are Bravanese. In addition to the standard Bravanese language (Chimini), which is a dialect of Swahili, the Tunni speak Tunni language (a dialect of Somali) and the remaining people speak the standard Somali language. Gallery References Bibliography External links Bravanese BravaOnLine Barawa Ajuran Sultanate Populated places in Lower Shebelle Populated coastal places in