Hargeisa

Hargeisa (in Somali): Hargeysa(coordinates: 9°30′N 44°0′E / 9.500, 44,000) is a city in northwest Somalia (officially), and capital of the declared Republic of Somaliland formed in 1991. In the past it worked as the colonial capital of the British Somaliland.

History

The city was devastated by bombing by the Somali army in 1988, due to the activities of northern Somali rebels during the beginning of the Somali Civil War. A monument represented by a MiG aircraft commemorates this event.

Since 1991, the city has been rebuilt and is currently in better condition than before the war. The money received from emigrants and relatives abroad has been more important for reconstruction than aid from foreign governments, an unusual case in Africa due to its low dependence on foreign aid.

Currently Hargeisa has operating traffic lights and its vehicle traffic laws are respected, unlike Mogadiscio, where all traffic lights are destroyed.

Geography

Hargeisa is located in a valley of the northwestern section of the country. It is in a mountainous area, approximately 1260 meters above sea level.

Climate

This altitude gives Hargeisa and its surroundings a milder climate than the coastal area of the Gulf of Aden (one of the warmest regions on the planet). The temperature varies between 23°C and 32°C (74-89 degrees Fahrenheit). Hargeisa also receives larger amounts of precipitation, and the city was surrounded by forests when it was smaller.

Demographic

At the beginning of the XX century, according to some sources the population of Hargeisa is between 500,000 and 800,000 inhabitants. Others suggest that it could already exceed one million since then, due to the fact that no type of census has been carried out in almost 30 years, and to the large number of possessors and indigents in the city. As in the rest of the country there has been considerable growth since 1990, when the population was only 100,000 people. For 2019, some sources indicate a population close to 1,200,000 inhabitants.

Panorama of Hargeisa

Economy

Hargeisa is home to numerous companies that handle remittances from abroad. Some entire families have returned to the city, residing in mansions during the summer. The city has seen considerable development of this type in recent years.

Transports

The city has an international airport, with flights to Djibouti among other domestic destinations, such as Burao and Erigavo.