Rearuh

Sanaag سناج
Region
Overview of the Cal Madow mountains in Sanaag
Location in Somaliland.
Country	Somaliland
Capital	Erigavo
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
HDI (2017)	0.429[1] low · 3rd

Sanaag (Somali: Sanaag, Arabic: سناج‎ ) is an administrative region (gobol) in northeastern Somaliland.^[2] Sanaag has a long coastline facing the Gulf of Aden to the north, and is bordered by the Somali regions of Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sool and Bari. Its capital city is Erigavo.

History

Ruins in Las Khorey.

The Sanaag region and northeastern Somaliland in general is home to numerous archaeological sites, with rock art, ancient ruins, buildings and cairns found at numerous sites like Gudmo Biyo Cas, Heis, Maydh, Haylan, Qa’ableh, Qombo'ul and El Ayo to name a few.^[3] 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.^[4]

Geography

Camel in Almadow Forest, Somalia

Environment

A severe drought in the region in the early part of the 21st century caused an 80% or greater loss of livestock, though two good rainy seasons in 2004–2005 helped restore the area. Over a 15-year period of analysis, from 1988–2003, there was a 52% loss of forest and a 40% loss of grassland, and a 370% increase in bare land. Soil erosion due to weather and human activities and clearing of wood and brush for such uses as charcoal and fuel are issues leading to a degradation of the environment.^[5]

Economy

In recent history, the Sanaag region normally maintained a diverse economy, producing and then exporting to other regions, it produced livestock, frankincense, and leather for export, this was happening while the region lacked basic infrastructure, but sadly, after the outbreak of civil war the region's economy collapsed from loss of markets and dilapidated infrastructure has never helped, and lack of investment. Now the region only supports one main economy, livestock rearing. The Somali livestock ban imposed by Gulf countries in which was Sanaag's largest market has virtually destroyed the economy in the region, reducing purchasing power and forcing pastoralists in the region to survive on subsistence activities.^[6]

Demographics

The region is mainly inhabited by people from the Somali ethnic group, principally the Habar Yoonis and Habar Jeclo sub-clans of the Isaaq and the Dhulbahante and Warsangali sub-divisions of the Harti Darod.^[7]

Territorial dispute

Sanaag is a disputed region, claimed as sovereign territory by the two autonomous Somaliland and Puntland macro-regions of Somalia.

The dispute between Somaliland and Puntland stems from 1998, when Puntland formed and declared the region as part of its territory.^[8] Prior to that, it had been claimed but with no control over the region by Somaliland since the 1991 events of the Somali Civil War. In 1994, the historic USP political party was reinstated by Awad Ahmed Asharo, former party chairman of the main Warsangeli clan. With the support of Sanaag pro-union civil society, local admin and politicians, USP was subsequently recognized by UNISOM as the legitimate representative of Sanaag.^[9]

The dispute with the TFG stems from the passage of the new Charter in November 2004. However, this was not a pragmatic issue until the military successes of the government in the 2006–2007 war in Somalia. Assertions of sovereignty in January 2007 by the TFG leadership sparked riots in Somaliland for reunification with the south.^[10]

On July 1, 2007, the state of Maakhir also known as Badhan District was declared in the area. It claimed autonomy from both Puntland and Somaliland,^[11] but was eventually incorporated into Somaliland during late 2007.^[12]

Districts

According to the UN, the region of Sanaag is divided into 3 districts^[13] as follows:

• Erigavo District


• El Afweyn District


• Badhan District

Major Towns

• Erigavo


• El Afweyne


• Maydh


• Badhan


• Dararweyne


• Las Khorey


• Garadag


• Heis

Minor towns

• Midhisho


• Yubbe


• Hadaaftimo


• Hingalol


• Dhahar


• Buraan


• El Buh

Notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sanaag Region.

• Gwillim Law, "Districts of Somalia", Statoids, December 31, 1990


• SOMALIA NATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE,"Districts of Somalia", PEACE PLAN DJIBOUTI, 20 APRIL - 5 MAY 2000


• Warsangeli Sultanate

Coordinates: 10°46′45″N 48°11′9″E / 10.77917°N 48.18583°E / 10.77917; 48.18583