Sanaag

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Location of Sanaag in northern Somalia

Sanaag (Somali: Sanaag) is a region (gobol) disputed between the autonomous Puntland region of Somalia and the current breakaway republic of Somaliland. It was the largest region of the former British Somaliland protectorate, and its capital city is Ceerigaabo (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, Laasqoray, Dhahar, Ceel Afweyn, Buraan, Hadaaftimo, Mindigale, Xingalool, Yubbe, Ceelbuh, Damala Xagare, Maydh, Elaayo and Gar Adag.

Contents

Population

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The region’s population is approximately 290,000 (recently conducted Somaliland ID registration [Sponsored by DFID] of half of Sanaag’s population has put the number on over 210,000). Of this population, approximately 19 percent are rural-sedentary and 58 percent rural-nomadic. Most people in the region engage in animal husbandry, with only a limited number involved in small-scale subsistence farming, fishery, frankincense production and urban-based commercial activities.

Climate

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

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.[1]

Economy

In recent history, Sanaag region normally maintained a diverse economy, producing and then exporting to abroad, 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.

Territorial dispute

Main article: Somaliland-Puntland dispute
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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4][5]

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.[6][7]

In July 1, 2007, the state of Maakhir was declared on the area. It claims independence from both Puntland and Somaliland.[8]

Districts of Sanaag Region

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:[9]

Overview of Erigavo.





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:

Camel in Almadow Forest, Somalia

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."[10] Thus, under the 2005 elections for the lower house of Parliament, Sanaag was described as only having six districts.[11] Here is the list of districts of Sanaag and their "Grade":

Hadaaftimo, Somalia
Hadaaftimo, Somalia

Notable Sanaagian

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Environmental Study of Degradation in the Sool Plateau and Gebi Valley: Sanaag Region of Northern Somalia" (PDF). Horn Relief. February 2006. http://www.hornrelief.org/Study%20Reports/Environmental%20Study%20of%20Degradation%20in%20Sool%20Plateau%20and%20Gebi.pdf. Retrieved 6 February 2007. 
  2. ^ "Remarks on the 1998 Charter of Puntland State of Somalia". Somalia Watch. 12 August 2000. http://www.somaliawatch.org/archivejuly/000812601.htm. Retrieved 18 January 2007. 
  3. ^ "USP and the means of its political weight - Historical Understanding". Somalia Watch. February 1994. http://www.dhahar.com/articles/usp.html. Retrieved 19 February 2009. 
  4. ^ "Somalia's Puntland Sold Exploration Rights In Somaliland". Somaliland Times. 1 February 2006. http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2005/211/22.shtml. 
  5. ^ "Somaliland, Puntland Exchange Detainees". Somaliland Times. 7 December 2005. http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2005/203/21.shtml. Retrieved 18 January 2007. 
  6. ^ "Anti Somalia government protest rages in Somaliland". SomaliNet. 16 January 2007. http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/6740. Retrieved 16 January 2007. 
  7. ^ "Pro-government rally take place in northwest Somalia". Shabelle Media Network. 17 January 2007. http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2096.htm. Retrieved 19 January 2007. 
  8. ^ The Formation of The Maakhir State of Somalia
  9. ^ Gwillim Law, "Districts of Somalia ", Statoids, December 31, 1990
  10. ^ "Republic of Somaliland: Regions and Districts Law (Law No: 23/2002)". Translation of Republic of Somaliland government document. 29 July 2002. http://www.somalilandforum.com/somaliland/law/regions_distric_law.html. Retrieved 22 February 2007. 
  11. ^ "Somaliland: Elections for the Lower House of Parliament September 2005". Norwegian Centre for Human Rights/NORDEM. September 2005. http://www.humanrights.uio.no/forskning/publ/nr/2006/0306.pdf. Retrieved 22 February 2007. 

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

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