Badhan
Somalia| Badhan | |
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Badhan
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Somalia |
|---|---|
| Somalia | Sanaag |
| District | |
| Population (2007) | |
| - Total | 160,000 |
| Time zone | +3 (UTC) |
Badhan (also known as Barran, Baran) is a city and district in the Sanaag region, a territory in northwestern Somalia. In July 2007, the district became the capital city of the autonomous Maakhir region of Somalia. Since the start of the Somali civil war, the city has grown to include, among other things, a hospital, three secondary schools, as well as a university in the works since the Maakhir regional authorities plan to open another University in Buraan, another city towards the East of Sanaag. Badhan consists of four main neighbourhoods - Horseed, Iftin, Furqan and Nour.
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The Old Badhan is about 150 years old and the town used to be located in the settlement of Hubeera, but as Hubeera located in low land and it was always in danger of floods during the raining seasons, about 40 years ago the town has been re-located near borewell called Badhan and it borrowed the name ever since. The area was first settled in the 14th century by Warsangeli herdsmen as there is borewell for them to get water.
The war between Dervishes of Mohammed Abdullah Hassan and Sultanate of Warsangeli, the area became famous for the battle between the Warsangelis and the Dervishes. Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, the leader of Dervishes ordered new grand fort in Badhan. Nowadays the fort lacks restoration as time has gone by without ever being restored or looked after.
Badhan is a city that is experiencing a period of rapid growth. Similar to any other small town in Somalia, it used to count a population of less than 15,000 residents. However, in the wake of the Somali civil war, Somalis of the Warsangeli clan who had been victimized in other parts in Somalia started migrating back to their ancestral areas of the country. Badhan, being a traditional stronghold of the Darod Warsangeli, subsequently ballooned in size from a city to a population of over 150,000 and counting.
Badhan has green mountains on the west side knows as the Cal Madow, while the sea with white beaches, crystal clear water, and a kaleidoscopic reef, is situated just across the mountains. In the city there are many activities one can do like visit coffee shops where khat is consumed, or drop in on an Internet café. There are also many hotels and guest houses.
The best period to visit this city is during September-May during the rain season as the heat in the summer is unbearable for outsiders. On the outskirts of the city are rock mountains, grassland with wildlife and unique trees -- a panoramic view.