Las Anod

Las Anod Laascaanood لاس عانود
Town
Las Anod Location in Somalia
Coordinates: 08°28′40″N 047°23′38″E / 8.47778°N 47.39389°E / 8.47778; 47.39389Coordinates: 08°28′40″N 047°23′38″E / 8.47778°N 47.39389°E / 8.47778; 47.39389
Country	Somalia
Region	Sool
District	Las Anod
Population
• Total	39,500
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Las Anod (Somali: Laascaanood, Arabic: لاس عانود‎) is the administrative capital of the northern Sool province of Somalia. The city was part of the Dervish State until 1921, when it was incorporated into the former British Somaliland protectorate.

Local control is disputed between Somaliland, Puntland and Khatumo State (formerly HBM-SSC or Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC^[1]).

History

During the pre-independence period, Las Anod served as an early center for Mohammed Abdullah Hassan's Dervish resistance.

Shops in Las Anod.

On October 15, 1969, while paying a visit to the city, Somalia's then President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was shot dead by one of his own bodyguards. His assassination was quickly followed by a military coup d'état on October 21, 1969 (the day after his funeral), in which the Somali Army seized power without encountering armed opposition — essentially a bloodless takeover. The putsch was spearheaded by Major General Mohamed Siad Barre, who at the time commanded the army.^[2]

Following the outbreak of the civil war in 1991, separatist figures in the present-day Somaliland region in northwestern Somalia unilaterally declared independence from the rest of the country and laid claim to the Sool province and its capital Las Anod. In 2002, a re-organized Puntland government took over administration of Las Anod, with the consent of the city's residents.^[3] Due to delays in infrastructure spending in Sool, some locals felt disenfranchised and sided with Somaliland in the latter's October 2007 occupation of the area.^[3][4][5] Since Somaliland militarily seized the city, some 20,000 civilians have moved away.^[3][6] Large protests have also been staged in the city against visiting delegations from Somaliland.^[7] Additionally, the Puntland authorities have condemned the occupation and demanded that Somaliland withdraw its troops.^[8]

Geography

Las Anod is strategically positioned along trade routes in northwestern Somalia. The city is almost surrounded by hills and has considerable water resources, the latter of which makes it a prime destination for peoples from other parts of generally arid Somalia as well as from neighboring countries such as Djibouti and Ethiopia.

Demographics

Las Anod has an estimated population of 39,500 inhabitants.^[9] The broader Las Anod District has a total population of 75,436 residents.^[10] Prior to 1991, Las Anod was a small town. However, it has now expanded to the point where travelers require public transportation to navigate the city's 10 neighborhoods.

The town is primarily inhabited by people from the Somali ethnic group, with the Dhulbahante sub-clan of the Darod well-represented.^[4] They share close kinship ties with fellow Harti communities in Puntland.^[8]

Education

Las Anod has a number of academic institutions. According to the Puntland Ministry of Education, there are 6 primary schools in the Las Anod District. Among these are Tukaraq, Canjiid, Garbara and Al-falax Higlo.^[11]

Secondary school education is provided by Ilays Educational Academy, Muse Yusuf and Nugaal High Schools.^[12] Founded in 2004, Nugaal University (NU) is the first post-secondary institution of higher learning to be established in the area. The first group of four-year Nugaal University students graduated in September 2009.

Economy

Las Anod's economy is mainly centered on pastoralism and communications, with some additional retail trade. The area around the city is rich in livestock, while mobile phone and money transfer services provide almost 40% of tax revenues.

The main telecommunication services available in Las Anod are operated by Telesom, Somtel and Golis Telecom Somalia, among other companies.

Landmarks and services

Las Anod Airport offers air transportation to local residents. The city also has a general hospital, the Las Anod Hospital, which was opened in 1958. There is also a privately operated hospital called Manhal, established in 2010.

In addition, the Las Anod features several landmarks. Among these sites are Goolad, Dhiif Hotel, Masjid Jama, Ataash Hotel, Royal, Hotel Hamdi, Durdurka, Darayda, Abdi Bille Football Stadium, Hills of Hilble, and Hills of Sayidka.

Media

Radio Laascaanood is the main radio station operating in the Sool region from Las Anod.

Notable residents

• Abdi Bile, world champion long distance athlete
• Ali Khalif Galaydh, former Prime Minister of Somalia
• Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, religious leader, founder of Dervish state
• Mohamed Hashi, former president of Puntland

References

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Laascaanood.