Hargeisa
| Hargeisa Hargeysa هرجيسا |
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| — City — | |
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 Hargeisa
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| Coordinates: 10°00′00″N 44°30′00″E / 10.00000°N 44.50000°ECoordinates: 10°00′00″N 44°30′00″E / 10.00000°N 44.50000°E | |
| Country |  Somalia |
| Region | Woqooyi Galbeed |
| 1960 (State of Somaliland) | |
| 1991 (Somalia) | |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Yusuf Warsame Saeed |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,200,000[1] |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
Hargeisa (Somali: Hargeysa, Arabic: هرجيسا, "little Harar") is the second-largest city in Somalia,[2][3] located in the Woqooyi Galbeed region. Hargeisa is the capital of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.[4] It was the colonial capital of the British Somaliland protectorate from 1941 to 1960, when it gained independence as the State of Somaliland and united with Italian Somaliland to form the Somali Republic.[5]
The city is situated in a valley in the Galgodon (Ogo) highlands, and sits at an elevation of 4,377 feet (1,334 m). Home to rock art from the Neolithic period, Hargeisa is also a commercial hub for precious stone-cutting, construction, retail services and importing/exporting, among other activities.[2]
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Etymology [edit]
The place-name Hargeisa literally means "the place where hide is sold".[6] Although little is known about the city's pre-19th century history,[6] Encyclopaedia Aethiopica suggests that the settlement may have evolved in the latter half of the 1800s as a Qadiriyya settlement established by Shaykh Maddar, near a water-stop used by nomadic stock-herders on the way to the town of Harar. It thus proposes that the name "Hargeisa" was possibly derived from the sobriquet Harar as-sagir, meaning "Harar the little".[7]
History [edit]
Prehistory [edit]
Numerous cave paintings from the Neolithic period are found in the Laas Gaal complex, on the outskirts of Hargeisa. During November and December 2002, an archaeological survey was carried out in the area by a French team of researchers. The expedition's objective was to search for rock shelters and caves containing stratified archaeological infills capable of documenting the period when production economy appeared in this part of Somalia (circa 5,000 and 2,000 BCE). During the course of the survey, the French archaeological team discovered the Laas Gaal rock art, encompassing an area of ten rock alcoves (caves). In an excellent state of preservation, the paintings show human figures with their hands raised and facing long-horned, humpless cattle.[8]
The rock art had been known to the area's inhabitants for centuries before the French discovery. However, the existence of the site had not been broadcast to the international community. In November 2003, a mission returned to Laas Gaal and a team of experts undertook a detailed study of the paintings and their prehistoric context.
Northern Somalia in general is home to numerous such archaeological sites, with similar rock art and/or ancient edifices found at Haylaan, Qa’ableh, Qombo'ul and Elaayo. However, many of these old structures have yet to be properly explored, a process which would help shed further light on local history and facilitate their preservation for posterity.[9]
British Somaliland [edit]
In 1888, after signing successive treaties with the then ruling Somali Sultans such as Mohamoud Ali Shire of the Warsangali Sultanate, the British established a protectorate in the region referred to as British Somaliland.[10] The British garrisoned the protectorate from Aden in present-day Yemen, and administered it from their British India until 1898. British Somaliland was then administered by the Foreign Office until 1905 and afterwards by the Colonial Office.
Berbera, a major trading harbour on the Red Sea, was the protectorate's first capital due to its strategic importance. However, the capital was moved from Berbera to Hargeisa, and the city was granted capital status in 1941. During the East African Campaign, the protectorate was occupied by Italy in August 1940, but recaptured by the British in March 1941.
The protectorate gained its independence on 26 June 1960 as the State of Somaliland,[11][12] before uniting as planned days later with the Trust Territory of Somalia (the former Italian Somaliland) to form the Somali Republic.[13]
1980s [edit]
Due to the Barre regime's violent repression, Somalis in the northwestern part of the country (particularly the Isaaq clan), encouraged by Ethiopia in opposition to Somalia, took up arms and formed the Somali National Movement (S.N.M.) in 1981 to resist Barre. In the late 1980s, Barre virtually lost control of the province and ordered the air force to bomb Hargeisa, today's capital of Somaliland. The bombing and subsequent raids of government troops claimed tens of thousands of casualties.[14]
A war memorial in the form of a MiG fighter jet was erected in Hargeisa to mark this event.
Reconstruction [edit]
As control of Mogadishu shifted in favor of the United Somali Congress (USC) in 1991, a power struggle between the leaders had led to the city's destruction. While Mogadishu and the rest of southern Somalia were being destroyed, the opposite was happening in Hargeisa and the rest of northwestern Somalia. By 18 May 1991, secessionists in the Somaliland region had declared independence and reconstruction had begun.
Since 1991, the city has undergone a massive facelift and most of the devastated commercial and residential homes have been rebuilt and are in better condition than before the war, with larger use of brick and concrete instead of mud and adobe. Remittance money sent from overseas relatives contributed tremendously in the reconstruction of the city as well as entrepreneurial spirit of local residents and citizens throughout the Somaliland region.[citation needed]
Although Hargeisa used to have working traffic lights, the only traffic control today is by the occasional police officer. Traffic keeps to the right, and both left- and right-hand drive vehicles are used in equal measure. All residents entitled to drive must hold a photo driving license. All cars bear Somaliland license plates.[citation needed]
Geography [edit]
Hargeisa is located in a valley in the northwestern section of the country. The city is situated in a mountainous area, in an enclosed valley of the Galgodon (Ogo) highlands. It sits at an elevation of 1,334 meters (4,377 ft) above sea level. This altitude gives Hargeisa and the surrounding area a milder climate than the Gulf of Aden coastal area, where the weather is typically hot. The temperature ranges between 13 and 32 degrees Celsius (55 and 89 degrees Fahrenheit).
Hargeisa receives larger amounts of rain, and used to be surrounded by forest when the city was smaller but the countryside around the city still has small juniper forests. Near Hargeisa are the fertile Sheikh and Daallo mountains, which also receive large amount of rain. South of Hargeisa is the Hawd Savannah (Baligubadle) which attracts many different animals to graze in the area
Hargeisa is situated near the town of Gabiley, which serves as an agricultural center in northern Somalia. That town's Allay-Baday area produces tons of tomatoes and onions each month during the rainy season. The city of Arabsiyo is also located nearby, and is noted for its lemon production.
Wildlife [edit]
Due to its fertility and greenery, wild animals come to the Hargeisa area to either breed or graze on the grassland savannah. Fauna that can be found in rural sections of the city include the kudu, wild boars, Somali wild ass, warthogs, antelopes, Somali sheep, goats, camels, and many different types of birds. South of Hargeisa is a grassland savannah, which attracts many types of wildlife to the area including lions and leopards.
Climate [edit]
Under the Köppen climate classification, Hargeisa features a hot semi-arid climate (BSh ). The city generally features warm winters and hot summers. However, despite its location in the tropics, due to the high altitude Hargeisa seldom experiences either very hot or very cold weather. This is a trait rarely seen in regions with a semi-arid climates. The city receives the bulk of its precipitation between the months of April and September, averaging just under 400 mm of precipitation annually. Average monthly temperatures in Hargeisa range from 17 C in the months of December and January to 24 C in the month of June.
| Climate data for Hargeisa Egal International Airport/Madaarka Hargeysa ee Calaamiga (1347 AMSL) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 31 (88) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
34 (93) |
33 (91) |
33 (91) |
33 (91) |
32 (90) |
33 (91) |
31 (88) |
28 (82) |
34 (93) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 24.2 (75.6) |
26.6 (79.9) |
28.7 (83.7) |
29.2 (84.6) |
30.5 (86.9) |
31.0 (87.8) |
29.2 (84.6) |
29.2 (84.6) |
30.5 (86.9) |
28.2 (82.8) |
26.0 (78.8) |
23.7 (74.7) |
28.1 (82.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.7 (63.9) |
18.7 (65.7) |
21.6 (70.9) |
23 (73) |
24.1 (75.4) |
24.3 (75.7) |
23.6 (74.5) |
23.6 (74.5) |
23.6 (74.5) |
24.1 (75.4) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.1 (64.6) |
21.7 (71.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 11.6 (52.9) |
12.6 (54.7) |
15.0 (59) |
16.6 (61.9) |
17.7 (63.9) |
17.7 (63.9) |
17.1 (62.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
15.0 (59) |
13.1 (55.6) |
12.1 (53.8) |
15.2 (59.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2 (36) |
2 (36) |
3 (37) |
6 (43) |
11 (52) |
11 (52) |
10 (50) |
10 (50) |
10 (50) |
7 (45) |
4 (39) |
4 (39) |
2 (36) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 2.5 (0.098) |
2.5 (0.098) |
25 (0.98) |
53 (2.09) |
53 (2.09) |
66 (2.6) |
33 (1.3) |
79 (3.11) |
56 (2.2) |
20 (0.79) |
2.5 (0.098) |
2.5 (0.098) |
391 (15.39) |
| Avg. precipitation days | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| % humidity | 63 | 58 | 58 | 56 | 57 | 54 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 52 | 58 | 66 | 57 |
| Source: FAO (UN)[15][verification needed] | |||||||||||||
Economy [edit]
Hargeisa is the financial hub to many entrepreneurial industries ranging from food processing, gem stonecutters, construction, retail, import and export, Internet cafes, and companies that process remittances from relatives abroad who send money. Some families have moved back to the city, living in mansions in the hills during the summer.
Hargeisa is the namesake of Hargeisa Minerals & Resources Company and contains many of Somaliland's business headquarters within its city limits.
The city also has private and public menageries, housing animals from the region including lions, leopards, antelopes, birds and reptiles.
In addition Hargeisa Provincial Museum is located here.
Transport [edit]
The city is home to Hargeisa International Airport, with flights to Addis Ababa, Djibouti City, Dubai and many other cities across Africa and Somalia. All foreigners are required to exchange 50 US Dollars to local currency (which is the Somaliland Shilling. (1 USD=6700 Somaliland Shillings in Open market as of April 2009, Official rate is almost half of the open market). There are local bus services in Hargeisa. There are also other buses and shared taxis that goes to other cities in Somaliland.
Paved roads are available in Hargeisa, however most have been badly damaged by tanks and shelling during the war. The vast majority of the roads were paved by the British, during colonial rule. The local government has repaired some of the roads but many others are still awaiting repair.
Buses are the most commonly used form of public transport in the city. They travel on a number of routes serving nearly all districts of the city. Intra-city bus services are available connecting the major towns and cities like Burao, Berbera and Borama to Hargeisa.
Taxis are available, but are a less common form of public transport.
Education [edit]
Hargeisa is home to various colleges and some universities. The main ones include University of Hargeisa, Admas University College, Somaliland University of Technology, Gollis University and Hope University.
In addition, the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital offers nursing programmes.
There are also several state-run and privately owned secondary and high schools, such as SOS Sheikh, Abaarso Tech, the premiere secondary school in the capital region. Abaarso Tech is located about 8 miles west of Hargeisa. Additionally, many primary schools and nurseries are dispersed all around the city.
Communication [edit]
Hargeisa has a modern telephone system and nearly everyone in the city enjoys a telephone and some with access to the internet. Internet cafes are dotted all around Hargeisa and many youngsters and adults benefit from this. Mobile communication services are available in Hargeisa. The main mobile communication services in Hargeisa are operated by Telesom, STG, Nationlink Somaliland, Soltelco Telcom and Somtel.
Twin cities [edit]
Notes [edit]
- ^ Hargeisa City Hall. Retrieved on 2012-10-17. (2000 est.)
- ^ a b Hargeisa
- ^ "Somalia: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population". world-gazetteer.com. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ [1] Somaliland’s Quest for International Recognition and the HBM-SSC Factor
- ^ Somalis in Minneapolis fall under FBI suspicion - Associated Press
- ^ a b Briggs, Philip (2012). Somaliland: With Addis Ababa & Eastern Ethiopia. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 10. ISBN 1841623717.
- ^ Ficadorey, Gianfranco (2008). "Ha". Basic Reference (NY, USA: Thomson/Gale) 3: 1032.
- ^ The Journal of African Archeology Volume 1.2 (2003) Chapter 3
- ^ Michael Hodd, East African Handbook, (Trade & Travel Publications: 1994), p.640.
- ^ Hugh Chisholm (ed.), The encyclopædia britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information, Volume 25, (At the University press: 1911), p.383.
- ^ "Somaliland Marks Independence After 73 Years of British Rule" (fee required). The New York Times. 1960-06-26. p. 6. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "How Britain said farewell to its Empire". BBC News. 2010-07-23.
- ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica, The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, (Encyclopaedia Britannica: 2002), p.835
- ^ Somaliland and The Issue of International Recognition
- ^ "Climate of Somalia FAOSWALIM". Somalia Water and Land Information Management, FAO Nairobi, Kenya. Oct 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
References [edit]
External links [edit]
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Wikivoyage has travel information related to: Hargeisa |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hargeisa |
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