Erigavo

Erigavo Ceerigaabo إرجفو
Town
Overview of Erigavo
Erigavo Location in Somalia
Coordinates: 10°37′05″N 047°22′12″E / 10.61806°N 47.37000°E / 10.61806; 47.37000Coordinates: 10°37′05″N 047°22′12″E / 10.61806°N 47.37000°E / 10.61806; 47.37000
Country	Somalia
Region	Sanaag
District	Erigavo
Government
• Mayor	Ismaiil Haji Nuur
Population
• Total	41,000
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Erigavo (Somali: Ceerigaabo), also known as Erigabo, is a town in the northern Sanaag region of Somalia. It serves as the province's administrative capital.

History

Pathway in old Erigavo.

The Erigavo settlement is several centuries old. It lies approximately 60 km from the ancient northern town of Maydh. The general area is noted for its numerous historical tombs, where various Somali clan patriarchs are buried.^[1]

In the early modern period, Erigavo and environs were ruled by the Warsangali Sultanate.^[2] The city later served as an outpost for Mohammed Abdullah Hassan's ("Mad Mullah") Dervish State during the polity's anti-colonial campaign at the turn of the 20th century.

As of 2013, Erigavo is the administrative capital of the northern Sanaag region. It is also the center of the Erigavo District.

Local control is disputed between Puntland, Somaliland and Khatumo State (formerly HBM-SSC or Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC^[3]).

Geography

Environment

The Dorcas Gazelle.

10 km (6 m) to the north of the town are the remains of a juniper forest,^[4] running along the edge of the escarpment overlooking the Gulf of Aden. The escarpment is approximately 2,000 m (6,562 ft) above sea level, where the road from Erigavo drops down to the coast. 2 km (1.2 mi) to the west, it rises to the highest point in Somalia, Shimbiris. A popular local attraction, the summit sits at an elevation of about 2670 ft above sea level. A road also leads up from Erigavo to Mountain Daallo. At the mountain's peak, the sea can be observed in addition to the ancient town of Maydh, situated nearby.

Erigavo is also home to different animal and plant species. Wildlife endemic to the area include the Black-backed Jackal, Dorcas Gazelle, Hamadryas baboon, Suidae, Common Dwarf Mongoose, Abdim's Stork, Long-crested Eagle and Hartebeest.

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Erigavo features a mild version of the semi-arid climate. The city generally sees equable temperatures year round, with some of the mildest weather in all of Somalia. Despite its location in the tropics, due to the high altitude, temperatures rarely exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Nights are frequently chilly, even during the summer season. This is a trait shared with very few places in the world; notable locations with similar climate are Sana'a in Yemen or Arequipa in Peru. The city receives on average under 400 mm of precipitation annually. Average monthly temperatures range from 14.3 C in the month of December to 19.7 C in the month of July. Absolute minimum temperatures sometimes touch or cross zero degrees Celsius isotherm.

Demographics

Erigavo has a population of around 41,000 inhabitants.^[6] The broader Erigavo District has a total population of 114,846 residents.^[7] The Sanaag region in which the city is situated is primarily inhabited by people from the Somali ethnic group, with the Warsangali subdivision of the Harti Darod especially well-represented. It also has a significant number of inhabitants from the Isaaq clan, particularly the Habar Younis.^[8]

Education

Higher learning in Erigavo is provided by East Africa University (EAU), which has one of its six branches in the city.^[9] The Sanaag University also offers tertiary courses and degrees.

Administration

Town affairs are managed by the Erigavo Municipality. The city authority is led by Mayor Mudane Ismail Haji Nuur.^[10]

Services

As of 2009, Erigavo has two hospitals serving residents, with another being constructed. The Erigavo Airport also lies to the east of the town. Additionally, the city is the seat of a few local non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Erigavo has a modern telephone system, with widespread access to landline and mobile services. The main mobile communication services in the city are operated by the Puntland-based Golis Telecom, as well as Telcom and Telesom. STC Somaliland, another major local telecommunications company, manages electricity and telephone landlines only.

Additionally, the city is home to a Boy Scouts organization. Formed in 2005 by the local Sanaag administration, the Scouts partake in various activities, including a 2006 training program on governance, peace and leadership.^[11]

Notable residents

• Jama Korshel – former Vice President of the Supreme Revolutionary Council

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Erigavo.

• Erigavo, Somalia