| Maydh | |
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| — Town — | |
| Sheikh Isaaq's tomb in Maydh. | |
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Maydh
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Somalia |
| Region | Sanaag |
| Time zone | East Africa Time (UTC+3) |
Maydh (also transliterated Mait) is an ancient town in the Sanaag region of northern Somalia.
Local control is disputed between Somaliland, a self-declared independent republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia, the autonomous Puntland region in northeastern Somalia, 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).[1]
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The city of Maydh was was home to Sheikh Isahaq (Sheekh Isaxaaq), who, according to tradition, moved to Somalia from the Arabian Peninsula in the 12th or 13th century CE. Sheikh Isaaq is considered to be the founding father of the large Isaaq clan that primarily inhabits the Somaliland region of Somalia, as well as parts of Djibouti and the Ogaden. Sheikh Isaaq's domed tomb is also located here.[2] The graves of the ancestors of the Issa and Gadabuursi clans, whose territories are several hundred miles away, are located nearby.[2]
Northern Somalia in general is home to numerous such archaeological sites, with similar edifices found at Haylaan, Qa’ableh, Qombo'ul and Elaayo. 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]
Maydh has an estimated population of 30,000 residents.
As of 2010[update], the Habar Yoonis sub-clan of the Isaaq is especially well-represented in the town.
Maydh has one elementary school and one middle school, but no secondary school. There are no health facilities in the town. The closest hospital is the Ceerigaabo General Hospital, which is situated about 79 km (49 mi) to the southeast.
Maydh Island is situated about 30 km (19 mi) to the northeast in the Gulf of Aden.