El Afweyn
El Afweyn (Somali: Ceelafweyn) is a town in the Sanaag region of Somaliland.
El Afweyn
Ceel Afweyn | |
|---|---|
Town | |
.svg)  El Afweyn Location in Somaliland | |
| Coordinates: 9°55′45″N 47°13′2″E / 9.92917°N 47.21722°E | |
| Country |  Somaliland |
| Region | Sanaag |
| District | El Afweyn District |
| Population (2005)[1] | |
| • Total | 65,797 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
El Afweyn is a major historical town in western Sanaag region and sits at the major road connecting the cities of Burao and Erigavo. By road, the town is approximately 283km east of Burao and 88km southwest of Erigavo.[2][3]
The town is also the administrative seat of the El Afweyn district.
History
Isaaq genocide
During the Isaaq genocide El Afweyn and its surrounding territory saw over 300 persons be killed in October 1988 in revenge for the death of an army officer who was killed by a landmine laid by the rebel Somali National Movement (or the SNM for short). The town was also bombed by the Somali Air Force.[4]
Oxfam Australia (formerly known as Community Aid Abroad) described the situation in El Afweyn as follows:
It is known that many people have fled from the town of Elafweyn following bombing attacks by the government forces. A "scorched earth" policy applied to the villages in the Elafweyn plains. These displaced people are hiding in the bush without adequate access to food and medical supplies.[5]
Recent conflict
El Afweyn has been the site of a prolonged conflict that started in 2015 over grazing land, scarce water resources, and disputes over political power and influence between two resident communities. The conflict was an anomaly in an otherwise very stable Somaliland.[6][7]
The conflict was subsequently resolved in mid-July 2018 with the help of a Somaliland government led delegation from the Academy for Peace and Development (AFD).[8]
Archaeology
The town of El Afweyn contains archeological sites in the form of pre-historical caves and rock-carvings.
In 1972, a joint Somali-Soviet expedition arrived in El Afweyn to research these rock carvings.[9] El Afweyn is also home to multiple cairns and the rock art site of God-Hardune near the town.[10]
Flora and fauna
El Afweyn is home to a diverse collection of flora and fauna, especially birds. Birds native to the town include the Blue-headed Wagtail, the White-winged Tern, the common migrant warbler, the Common Nightingale, the Squacco Heron, the Egyptian Vulture, the Wattled Starling and the Lappet-faced Vulture.[11]
Economy
El Afweyn's economy is primarily based on the export of livestock. The town is home to the largest livestock markets in Sanaag region, and one of the largest in the Horn of Africa. The livestock market handles livestock from all corners of the Somali territories and generates a significant percentage of the town's income.[12]
Education
There are nine primary and secondary schools located in El Afweyn, including Aadan Abokor Qorsheel School and the Nugaal Primary and Intermediate School, among others.[13][14][15]
Demographics
As of 2005[update] El Afweyn has a total population of 17,574 residents. It is mainly populated by the Biciide sub-division of the Habr Je'lo Isaaq with a significant presence of the Habar Yoonis sub-clan of the Garhajis Isaaq.[16]
References
- ^ "Regions, districts, and their populations: Somalia 2005 (draft)" (PDF). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 28 July 2017 suggested (help) - ^ "Distance between Ceel Afweyn, Sanaag Somalia SO and Erigavo, Sanaag Somalia SO (Sanaag,Somalia)". distancecalculator.globefeed.com. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ "283 Km - Distance from burco to El Afweyn". www.distancesfrom.com. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ Ford, Richard; Adam, Hussein Mohamed; Ismail, Edna Adan (1 January 2004). War destroys, peace nurtures: reconciliation and development in Somalia. Red Sea Press. ISBN 978-1-56902-186-6.
- ^ Somalia: A Government at War With Its Own People (PDF). Human Rights Watch. 1990. p. 158.
- ^ "Somalia - Security Situation in Somalia (last update: August 2020) - ecoi.net". www.ecoi.net. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ "Peace and Strategic Policy Center". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ "Somaliland: 'Declaration of Peace' Halts Protracted Conflict in Ceel Afweyn - Somalia". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ Ivanova, Lyubov. "The Somali-Soviet Expedition of 1971-1972".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Rodríguez, Jorge de Torres (2018). "Against All Odds: The History of Archaeological Research in Somaliland and Somalia". Northeast African Studies. 18 (1–2): 271–310. doi:10.14321/nortafristud.18.1-2.0271. hdl:10261/216289. ISSN 0740-9133.
- ^ Redman, Nigel (9–27 September 2012). "DJIBOUTI & SOMALILAND" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ A Self-portrait of Somaliland: Rebuilding from the Ruins. Somaliland Centre for Peace and Development. 1999.
- ^ editor (2019-09-01). "Somaliland: Conflict of El-Afwayn disrupts education for hundreds of children". Horn Diplomat. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Aadan Abokor Qoorsheel". Aadan Abokor Qoorsheel (in Swedish). Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ "NUGAAL P&I SCHOOLS". NUGAAL P&I SCHOOLS (in Swedish). Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ "Regions, districts, and their populations: Somalia 2005 (draft)" (PDF). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. United Nations Development Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 2017-07-28 suggested (help)