Southwestern Somalia (Somali: Koonfur-Galbeed Soomaaliya) was an ostensibly autonomous self-proclaimed state in Somalia founded by Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud, leader of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) on April 1, 2002. The state was officially the Southwestern State of Somalia (SWS) (Somali: Dowlad Goboleedka Koonfur-Galbeed ee Soomaaliya) and intended to consist of six Somali administrative regions (gobolka); These are the Bay, Bakool, Middle Juba (Jubada Dhexe), Lower Shabelle (Shabeelada Hoose), Gedo, and Lower Juba (Jubada Hoose) regions where the majority of the residents of Rahanweyn Digil-Mirifle and May–May Somali speakers. The organization of the autonomous state was a move to show the disaffection of the RRA with the nascent Mogadishu-based Transitional National Government (TNG) and an act to counter the influence of the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) in the same regions.
Read more about Southwestern Somalia: Rivalry and Reconciliation Within The RRA, Conflict With The Islamic Courts Union, Current Status