Eyl
Coordinates: 7°57′45″N 49°50′44″E / 7.9625°N 49.84556°E
| Eyl | |
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 Eyl
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| Coordinates: 7°59′N 49°50′E / 7.983°N 49.833°E | |
| Country |  Somalia |
| Region | Puntland |
| District | Nugaal |
| Population | |
| • Total | 19,000 |
| Time zone | East Africa Time (UTC+3) |
Eyl is an ancient town in the northern Puntland region of Somalia. It is situated near the Hafun peninsula.
[edit] History
Eyl is the site of many historical artifacts from Somalia's pre-colonial period. Along with a rock shelter in the southern town of Buur Heybe, it is the seat of the first professional archaeological excavation in the country.[1]
[edit] Piracy
In the late 2000s, Eyl became a pirate haven,[2] with more than a dozen ships being held captive by pirate crews.[3] However, by 2010, intensive security operations by Puntland military forces reportedly managed to force out the pirate gangs from their traditional safe havens in the hamlet as well as adjacent settlements, with the pirates now primarily operating from a few towns in the neighboring Galmudug region.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Peter Robertshaw, A History of African archaeology, (J. Currey: 1990), p.103.
- ^ Mazzetti, Mark; Otterman, Sharon (2009-04-09). "U.S. Captain is Hostage of Pirates; Navy Ship Arrives". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/world/africa/09pirates.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Eyl&st=cse. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
- ^ "Somalia's pirates seize 33 tanks". BBC News. 2008-09-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7637257.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
- ^ Kirk Report: Ending Somali Piracy Against American and Allied Shipping
