Sanaag
—  Region  —
Location in Somalia.
Country	Somalia
Capital	Erigavo
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Sanaag (Somali: Sanaag) is an administrative region (gobolka) in northern Somalia.^[1] Its capital city is Erigavo.

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.

The most important towns in the region are Ceerigaabo, Badhan, Las Khorey, Dhahar, Laako, Ceel Afweyn, Buraan, Huluul, Kulmiye, Yufle, Dayaha, Hadaaftimo, Mindigale, Xingalool, Jiidali, Xiis, Yubbe, Ceelbuh, Damala Xagare, Maydh, Elaayo and Gar Adag.

Local control of Sanaag is disputed between Somaliland, the autonomous Puntland region, and HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose goal is the creation of its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC).^[2]

History[link]

Ruins of the Warsangali Sultanate in Las Khorey.

The Sanaag region and northern Somalia in general is home to numerous archaeological sites, with ancient ruins, buildings and cairns found at Haylaan, Qa’ableh, Qombo'ul, Maydh and Elaayo, among other places. 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.^[3]

The Warsangali Sultanate was an imperial ruling house centered in northeastern and in some parts of southeastern Somalia. It was one of the largest sultanates ever established in the territory, and, at the height of its power, included the Sanaag region and parts of the northeastern Bari region of the country, an area historically known as Maakhir or the Maakhir Coast. The Sultanate was founded in the late 13th century in northern Somalia by a group of Somalis from the Warsangali branch of the Darod clan, and was ruled by the descendants of the Gerad Dhidhin.

Demographics[link]

The Sanaag region is mainly inhabited by people from the Somali ethnic group, with the Warsangali subdivision of the Harti Darod especially well-represented.^[4]

Geography[link]

Climate[link]

Sanaag has four zones: the coastal area, the mountain range, the gypsum karsts plateau and the Sool Haud plateau. The latter is rich in pasture and has better water quality. Except for the elevated area of Erigavo district where rainfall records indicate an annual average of up to 800 mm(see "Cal Madow" topic), rainfall generally does not exceed 150 mm in most of the region.

Environment[link]

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[link]

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]

Territorial dispute[link]

Somaliland border dispute with Puntland. As of July 1, 2007, 2/3 of the disputed territory declared the state of Maakhir.

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.^[7] 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 Chairmain 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.^[8]

Beginning in 1998, after Puntland was formed, Sanaag was one of the regions of Puntland, with Sanaag elected politician given the Speaker of the House position in a power sharing agreement. Thus, both the police and army of Puntland were already established in the region based on the desires of the local population for their security and the territorial integrity of Somalia. The separatist Somaliland administration, however, still claimed the territory as part of the original but colonial boundary of British Somaliland. Fighting between the two forces led to casualties and captured prisoners, who were later exchanged. As a related contention, in 2005 Puntland tried to sell off mineral rights to foreign investors, including the disputed territories of Sool and Sanaag.^[9][10]

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, both for and against a reunification with the south.^[11][12]

On July 1, 2007, the state of Maakhir was declared in the area. It claimed autonomy from both Puntland and Somaliland,^[13] but was eventually incorporated into Puntland in January 2009.^[14]

In the late 2000s, HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose goal is to establish its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC), was formed.^[2]

Districts[link]

Uniquely designed house in Badhan, Somalia

According to the federal government of Somalia, prior 1991, Sanaag was divided into 5 Districts which are as follows:^[15]

• Badhan
• Ceel Afwayn
• Ceerigaabo
• Dhahar
• Laasqoray

According to the Puntland administration, the Sanaag region consists of 10 districts with Badhan being the Capital of the region. The Transitional Federal government also recognizes Puntland as an official state so as its regions and districts. The Districts of Sanaag are:

Hadaaftimo, Somalia

• Erigavo
• Mindigale
• Habar-shiro
• Hadaaftimo
• Xingalol
• Dhahar
• Laako
• Buraan
• Xabasha Wacle
• Badhan
• Las Khorey
• Kaladhacda
• Ceelbuh
• Mindigale

According to the Somaliland administration, as of July 2002, Sanaag was formally divided into 10 districts, rated "A" through "D" in terms; districts graded "D" were limited, because "their district councils shall not be elected at first local government elections as their borders have not yet been delineated."^[16] Thus, under the 2005 elections for the lower house of Parliament, Sanaag was described as only having six districts.^[17] Here is the list of districts of Sanaag and their "Grade":

Hadaaftimo, Somalia

• Erigavo (A)
• El-Afweyn (C)
• Badhan (A)
• Lasqoray (A)
• Dhahar (A)
• Gar-adag (C)
• Dararweyne (D)
• Maydh (D)
• Xingalool (B)
• Ceelbuh (B)
• Godcanood (C)
• Laako (C)
• Yufle (C)
• Jidale (C)
• Buraan (B)
• Hadaaftimo (B)
• Madhisho (C)
• Xiis (D)
• Yubbe (B)

Notable Sanaagians[link]

• Mohamoud Ali Shire, Sultan of former British Somaliland (1897–1960)
• Faarax Maxamed Jaamac Cawl, writer
• Jama Korshel, Somali Army General, former Head of Somali Police and one of the leaders of 1969 coup d'état of Somalia
• Hasan Hayle (Xasan Xayle), poet from Las Khorey
• Fatima Jibrell, founder of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization (Horn Relief)
• Mohamed Nuur Giriig, classical singer
• Abdillahi Mohammed Ahmed, known as Qablan, former Under-Secretary of Finance
• Abdullahi Ahmed Jama ‘Ilkajir’ Somali Army General and Interior Minister of Puntland,2009–Present

See also[link]

• Warsangali Sultanate

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Warsangeli Sultanate
• Ethiopian Internet Newsletter, The Eritrea-Ethiopia Conflict Webpage, Issue No. 10
• Gwillim Law, "Districts of Somalia", Statoids, December 31, 1990
• "Map of Puntland State". Puntlandgov. October 2006. http://www.puntlandgovt.com/map.php. Retrieved 16 March 2007. 
• Laasqorey port
• Togdheer News Network (in Somaliland).
• Hadaaftimo.com
• Makhir.com
• LaasQoray.net
• RadioSanaag.com
• Dhahar.com
• AllSanaag.com
• Kismaayo
• The Birth of the Somaliland Protectorate's own Postage Stamps (PDF file).
• puntlandgovt
• somalilandgov
• Sanaag.org

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