El Afweyn
El Afweyn(Somali:Ceelafweyn,Arabic:عيل أفوين) is a town in theSanaagregion ofSomaliland.
El Afweyn
| |
|---|---|
Town | |
  El Afweyn Location in Somaliland  El Afweyn El Afweyn (Somaliland) | |
| Coordinates:9°55′45″N47°13′2″E/ 9.92917°N 47.21722°E | |
| Country |  Somaliland |
| Region | Sanaag |
| District | El Afweyn District |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mahamed Aden Digale |
| Population (2012)[1] | |
| • Total | 60,000 |
| • Rank | 9th |
| Time zone | UTC+3(EAT) |
El Afweyn is a major historical town in westernSanaagregion and sits at the major road connecting the cities ofBuraoandErigavo.By road, the town is approximately 283 km east of Burao and 88 km southwest of Erigavo.[2][3]
The town is also the administrative seat of theEl Afweyn District.
History[edit]
Isaaq genocide[edit]
During theIsaaq genocideEl Afweyn and its surrounding territory saw over 300 people be killed in October 1988 in revenge for the death of an army officer who was killed by a landmine laid by the rebelSomali National Movement(or the SNM for short). The town was also bombed by theSomali 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]
In July 2000, El Afweyn was reported to be the most severely affected by flooding in the Sanaag region.[6]
Security[edit]
Jama Ali Jama,who had temporarily assumed the presidency after expelling thenPuntlandpresidentAbdullahi Yusuffrom the capitalGarowein 2002, retreated to El Afwein after a heavy defeat in Dhuudo, Puntland in December 2002.[7]The militia remained stationed in El Afwein, a town outside of Puntland's claimed jurisdiction,[8]until early 2003 when both sides reconciled. Parts of the militia surrendered to Puntland forces in March 2003,[9]with the militia itself withdrawing to Bosaso on April the same year.[7]
In 2005, a settlement was reached between Osman Aw Mohamud (Buurmadow) and Axmed Cali Ducaale, who both claim to be Boqor (regional king). TheHouse of Elderswas also instrumental in this settlement.[10]
Construction by Somaliland[edit]
Around 2010, security was stable, and the leader of the oppositionKulmiye Peace, Unity, and Development Partyreportedly gave an election speech.[11]
In 2012, the Somaliland government dug a 350-meter well, fully funded by the central government, to provide safe drinking water to more than 1,000 households.[12]
Clan Struggle and Reconciliation[edit]
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.[13][14][non-primary source needed]
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).[15]But as early as September, there was another deadly battle.[16]
On 23 September 2018, the road betweenErigavoand El Afweyn was opened.[17]
On 5 November 2019, a peace deal between two rival clans was announced in El Afweyn.[18]
On 27 May 2020, Somaliland's Ministry of Environment seized illegally logged timber in El Afweyn district and announced that the government would take control of the forest.[19]
Archaeology[edit]
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.[20]El Afweyn is also home to multiple cairns and the rock art site of God-Hardune near the town.[21]
Near El Afweyn is the ruined Islamic city ofMaduna,considered the most substantial and most accessible ruin of its type in Somaliland.[22][23]The main feature of the ruined city includes a large rectangular mosque, its 3-metre high walls still standing and which include a mihrab and possibly several smaller arched niches.[23]The mosque is surrounded by several old houses, most of whom being partially intact.[23]The houses include roofed rooms, as well as compounds of dome-shaped structures lacking doors or windows.[24]Just on a slope below the ruined city stands a baobab tree, large enough to suggest that it was planted while the city was inhabited.[23]
Not much is known about Maduna's history, with its dry-stone architectural style suggesting that Maduna was a contemporary of other ruined cities in Somaliland likeAmoudandAbasa,meaning that Maduna was presumably part of theAdalsultanate.[23]Swedish-Somali archaeologistSada Miredates the ruined city to the 15th–17th centuries.[24]
Flora and fauna[edit]
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, theEgyptian vulture,the Wattled Starling and the Lappet-faced Vulture.[25]
Economy[edit]
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.[26]
Education[edit]
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.[27][28][29]
Demographics[edit]
As of 2012 El Afweyn has an estimated population of 60,000.[1]It is mainly populated by theHabr Je'loclan of theIsaaqclan-family,[30]specifically theBi'ide,[31]and theHabar Yoonissub-clan of theGarhajisIsaaq,specifically the Saad Yunis.[31]
Notable residents[edit]
- Bashir Abdi– Somali-Belgian athlete who won the bronze medal in themarathonat the2020 Summer Olympics[32]
- Mohammed Ahmed– Canadianlong-distance runner.Ahmed won the silver medal at the2020 Tokyo Olympicsin the 5000m
- Arafat Jama –long-distance runner.
References[edit]
- ^abBriggs, Philip Robarts (2019).Somaliland: with the overland route from Addis Ababa via eastern Ethiopia the Bradt Travel Guide(2nd ed.). Chalfont St Peter: Bradt. p. 130.ISBN978-1-78477-605-3.
- ^"Distance between Ceel Afweyn, Sanaag Somalia SO and Erigavo, Sanaag Somalia SO (Sanaag,Somalia)".distancecalculator.globefeed.com.Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^"283 Km – Distance from burco to El Afweyn".distancesfrom.com.Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^Ford, Richard; Adam, Hussein Mohamed; Ismail, Edna Adan (1 January 2004).War destroys, peace nurtures: reconciliation and development in Somalia.Red Sea Press.ISBN978-1-56902-186-6.
- ^Somalia: A Government at War With Its Own People(PDF).Human Rights Watch. 1990. p. 158.
- ^Food Security Analysis Unit (27 July 2000)."Sections of Food Insecure/At Risk Populations in Somaliland".Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^abinterpeace (July 2008)."The Puntland Experience: A Bottom-up Approach to Peace and State Building"(PDF).p. 27.Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^Refworld (1 July 2001)."Transitional Constitution of Puntland Regional Government".Retrieved24 February2022.
The territorial sovereignty of Puntland shall extend to: East Region of Bari, Nugal, Sool, South Togdher (Buhodle District), Mudug except the Districts of Hobyo and Haradhere and Sanag Region except theDistrict of El-Afweynand Northeast of Erigavo District
- ^Allpuntland (14 May 2003)."Maleeshiyadii Ceel-Afweyn oo Qaar u soo galeen Daraawiishta Puntland".Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^"Boqor Cismaan Buur-Madow Iyo Boqor Axmed Dheere Go'aamo Hordhac Ah Ka Gaadhay Xiisadii Ceel-Afweyn".haatuf.net.23 January 2005.Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^"Madaxda xisbiyada oo ololeynaya".BBC. 18 June 2010.Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^"Somaliland: Governmen20t to Avail El-Afweyne Residents Safe Drinking Water".Somaliland Sun.10 March 2012.Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^"Somalia - Security Situation in Somalia (last update: August 2020) - ecoi.net".ecoi.net.Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^"Peace and Strategic Policy Center".Retrieved10 May2021– via Facebook.
- ^"Somaliland: 'Declaration of Peace' Halts Protracted Conflict in Ceel Afweyn – Somalia".ReliefWeb.Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^"Akhriso:-Khasaaraha Ka Dhashay Dagaal Dhex Maray Laba Maleeshiyo Beeleed".radiodalsan.com.6 September 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 9 July 2021.Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^"Somaliland: Waddada laamiga ah ee u dhexeeysa Ceerigaabo iyo Ceel-Afweyn oo la furay".BBC. 23 September 2018.Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^"Heshiis la dhex-dhigay beelo ku dagaalamay Ceel-Afweyn".badweyntimes.net.5 November 2019.Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^"Ceel-Afweyn: Wasaaradda Deegaanka Oo Qabatay Dhir Qoyan Oo La Soo Jaray".Hargeisa Press.27 May 2020.Retrieved4 July2021.
- ^Ivanova, Lyubov."The Somali-Soviet Expedition of 1971–1972".Archivedfrom the original on 16 January 2021.
- ^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.ISSN0740-9133.JSTOR10.14321/nortafristud.18.1-2.0271.
- ^Dev, Bradt Guides."Maduna ruins".Bradt Guides.Retrieved4 March2022.
- ^abcdeBriggs, Philip (2012).Somaliland: with Addis Ababa & Eastern Ethiopia.Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks, England: Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 128–129.ISBN978-1-84162-371-9.OCLC766336307.
- ^ab"Somaliland: archaeology in a breakaway state | Sada Mire".Retrieved4 March2022.
- ^Redman, Nigel (9–27 September 2012)."DJIBOUTI & SOMALILAND"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 26 February 2021.
- ^A Self-portrait of Somaliland: Rebuilding from the Ruins.Somaliland Centre for Peace and Development. 1999.
- ^"Somaliland: Conflict of El-Afwayn disrupts education for hundreds of children".Horn Diplomat.1 September 2019.Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^"Aadan Abokor Qoorsheel".Aadan Abokor Qoorsheel(in Swedish).Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^"NUGAAL P&I SCHOOLS".NUGAAL P&I SCHOOLS(in Swedish).Retrieved10 May2021.
- ^"EASO Country of Origin Information Report Somalia – Security Situation"(PDF).European Asylum Support Office:72. February 2016.
The Ceel Afweyn district is mainly inhabited by the Isaaq subclan Habar Jeelo.
- ^ab"S/2018/800 – Security Council Report"(PDF).United Nations Security Council:4. 30 August 2018.
- ^"Wiilashii Soomaalida oo guul wayn Yurub uga soo hooyay Maaradoonka Tokyo".BBC News Somali(in Somali).Retrieved11 August2021.
