Burao

Burao Burco برعو
City
Shopping mall in downtown Burao
Burao Location in Somalia
Coordinates: 09°31′27″N 045°32′13″E / 9.52417°N 45.53694°E / 9.52417; 45.53694Coordinates: 09°31′27″N 045°32′13″E / 9.52417°N 45.53694°E / 9.52417; 45.53694
Country	Somalia  Somaliland
Region	Togdheer
District	Burao
Government
• Mayor	Mohamud Ahmed Hassan
Elevation	1,037 m (3,402 ft)
Population
• Total	120,400
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)
Climate	BWh

Burao (var. Bur'o^[1]) (Somali: Burco, Arabic: برعو‎) is a city in the northwestern Burao District of Somalia. It serves as the capital of the Togdheer province, situated in the Somaliland autonomous region of Somalia.^[2]

History

Burao is one of a series of ancient settlements in northern Somalia. Burial sites near the town feature a number of old stelae.^[3]

Burao was the site of the unilateral and internationally unrecognized declaration of an independent Somaliland on May 18, 1991.^[4]

Like many other cities in the northern part of Somalia, Burao has been rebuilt with limited outside aid since the outbreak of the civil war in the early 1990s. The town has grown considerably on account of investment by the Somali diaspora and people from rural areas moving to the city.

Demographics

Burao's population has greatly increased over the years. Today, the city has a population of around 120,400 inhabitants.^[5] The broader Burao District has a total population of 288,211 residents.^[6]

As of November 1994, the main residents of Burao are the Habar Yoonis and the Habar Jeclo, subdivisions of the larger Isaaq Somali clan.^[1]

Municipality and services

A fabric and carpet boutique in Burao's old section.

The city enjoys full-time electricity and a reliable water supply from groundwater. In addition, Burao's central location has contributed to its economic revival. Goods travelling to the south, central and eastern parts of Somalia all depart from the city's outskirts. Rural merchants also sell their produce on a daily basis, which attracts business.

In 2007, Burao's city authority in conjunction with development organizations and local traders opened the Burco Meat and Produce complex. One year in the making, the market has two main halls and can accommodate more than 2000 merchants.^[7]

The Burao Municipality is currently led by Mayor Mohamud Ahmed Hassan.^[7]

Geography

Weather in Burao, much like other inland towns in northern Somalia, is warm and dry year-round. The average daytime temperatures during the summer months of June and August can rise to 31 °C (95 °F), with a low of 20 °C (77 °F) at night. The weather is cooler the rest of the year, averaging 27 °C (80 °F) during the day and 13 °C (57 °F) at nighttime. The city's limited rainfall of 222 mm usually comes with two peaks during April–May and October–November.

The Togdheer River runs through the town. It is often dry but subject to flooding. The river divides the city in half, and can be crossed via a newly built bridge in the city center.

Burao's landscape is semi-desert and fairly flat.

Climate

Wildlife

Due to the fertility and greenery of the region, wild animals come to the area either to breed or to graze on the grassland savannah. Prominent animals found locally include the kudu, wild boars, zebras, the Somali Wild Ass, warthogs, antelopes, the Somali sheep, wild goats, camels, and many different types of birds. Due south of Burao is a grassland savannah, which attracts many types of fauna to the region, including lions and leopards.

Transportation

A residential area in Burao.

Burao has a working bus system. Air transportation needs are served by the Burao Airport, which offers flights via Daallo Airlines to Hargeisa and other cities in Somalia, as well as international locations such as Addis Ababa and San'a. As of 2012, the airport's facilities are undergoing major renovations, supervised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Additionally, an all-weather road connects Burao to the port of Berbera through the escarpment town of Sheekh. In September 2013, the Somali federal government signed an official cooperation agreement with its Chinese counterpart in Mogadishu as part of a five-year national recovery plan in Somalia. The pact will see the Chinese authorities reconstruct several major infrastructural landmarks in the Somali capital and elsewhere, as well as the road linking Burao with Galkayo.^[10]

Notable residents

• Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur – first President of Somaliland
• Abdirashid Duale – CEO of Dahabshiil
• Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud – incumbent President of Somaliland
• Hadraawi – poet laureate

See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Burao.

• Dul Madoba

References