Eyl ( it, Eil) is an ancient port town in the northeastern
Nugal region of
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
in the autonomous
Puntland
Puntland ( so, Puntland, ar, أرض البنط, it, Terra di Punt or ''Paese di Punt''), officially the Puntland State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Puntland ee Soomaaliya, ar, ولاية أرض البنط الصومالية), is a F ...
region, also serving as the capital of the
Eyl District
Eyl District ( so, Degmada Eyl) is a district in the northeastern Nugal region of Somalia. Its capital is Eyl
Eyl ( it, Eil) is an ancient port town in the northeastern Nugal region of Somalia in the autonomous Puntland region, also serving as ...
. Eyl, also called Illig, was the capital of the Dervishes from 1905 onwards, until superseded by
Taleh
Taleh ( so, Taleex, ar, تليح) is a historical town in the eastern Sool region of Somaliland. As of September 2015, both Puntland and Somaliland had nominal influence or control in Taleh and it's vicinity. The town served as the capital ...
, which became Dervish capital in 1909.
History
Daarta Dhowre Sheneeleh
Eyl is the site of many
historical artifacts and structures. Along with a rock shelter near the southern town of
Buur Heybe, it is the seat of the first professional
archaeological excavation in the country.
[Peter Robertshaw, ''A History of African archaeology'', (J. Currey: 1990), p.103.]
![Daarta Sayyidka](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Daarta_Sayyidka.jpg)
At the turn of the twentieth century, the city served as a bastion for the
Dervish
Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from fa, درویش, ''Darvīsh'') in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity (''tariqah''), or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. The latter usage i ...
forces of Sayyid
Mohammed Abdullah Hassan
Sayid Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan ( so, Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan; 1856–1920) was a Somali religious and military leader of the Dervish movement, which led a two-decade long confrontation with various colonial empires including the British, ...
("Mad Mullah"), the emir of
Diiriye Guure. Several forts or
Dhulbahante garesa
Taleh ( so, Taleex, ar, تليح) is a historical town in the eastern Sool region of Somaliland. As of September 2015, both Puntland and Somaliland had nominal influence or control in Taleh and it's vicinity. The town served as the capital of ...
s remain from this period, in addition to colonial edifices built by the Italians.
Daarta Dhowre Sheneeleh
Dhowre Ali Sheneeleh was the castellan of the Darawiish fort / Dhulbahante garesa of Eyl (also called Illig), whilst the governor of Nugaaleed-Bari for the Darawiish was Ali Meggar. He was also the primary commander which spearheaded opposition ...
, a prominent fort from the Darawiish era, is located in the city.
The notion of the building of fortresses or
Dhulbahante garesa
Taleh ( so, Taleex, ar, تليح) is a historical town in the eastern Sool region of Somaliland. As of September 2015, both Puntland and Somaliland had nominal influence or control in Taleh and it's vicinity. The town served as the capital of ...
s for Dervish inhabitation was conceived in pre-1902 when the Dervishes built a fort at Halin, subsequently at Eyl also called Illig. According to the British War Office, the castle at Illig was exclusively inhabited by the Dhulbahante clan, and in particular by the Bah Ali Gheri subclan of the Dhulbahante:
[Official History of the Operations in Somaliland, 1901-04 Great Britain. War Office. General Staff · 1907 , PAGE 264]
Darawiish capital
According to Douglas Jardine, Eyl was the capital of Dervishes for four years, from 1905, until it was changed to
Taleh
Taleh ( so, Taleex, ar, تليح) is a historical town in the eastern Sool region of Somaliland. As of September 2015, both Puntland and Somaliland had nominal influence or control in Taleh and it's vicinity. The town served as the capital ...
in 1909, was at Eyl, also called Illig:
[Mad Mullah of Somaliland, Douglas Jardine, p 148]
According to Douglas Jardine, the Dervish fortification or
Dhulbahante garesa
Taleh ( so, Taleex, ar, تليح) is a historical town in the eastern Sool region of Somaliland. As of September 2015, both Puntland and Somaliland had nominal influence or control in Taleh and it's vicinity. The town served as the capital of ...
at Illig or Eyl were exclusively inhabited by the
Dhulbahante
The Dhulbahante ( so, Dhulbahante, ar, دلبةنتئ) is a Somali clan family, part of the Harti clan which itself belongs to the largest Somali clan-family — the Darod. They are the traditional inhabitants of the physiographic Nugaal in its ...
:
Contemporary
Following the outbreak of the
civil war
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
in the early 1990s, foreign boats began to illegally fish in the unpatrolled waters off Eyl's coastline.
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...
subsequently emerged as fishermen banded together to protect their livelihood. However, by 2010, intensive security operations by Puntland's military forces coupled with community-led initiatives managed to force out the pirates from their operating centers in the area as well as adjacent settlements.
In March 2012, the
Puntland Maritime Police Force
The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) is a security force based in Puntland, an autonomous region in northeastern Somalia. As of March 2012, the PMPF had around 500 personnel. The force is eventually expected to comprise 10,000 personnel.
Ac ...
(PMPF) dispatched a unit of officers and support elements to Eyl at the request of the municipal authorities. The move was intended to ensure permanent security in the area and to support the local administration. To this end, PMPF soldiers were slated to establish a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the town earmarked for counter-piracy activities and to begin construction of a logistics airstrip, and to engage in water-drilling.
In December 2014, Puntland President
laid the foundation stone for a new PMPF base in Eyl, which occupies an area of 300 square meters on land donated by the municipality.
Municipality
Town affairs are managed by the Eyl Municipality. As of March 2022, the city authority was led by Mayor Faysal Khaliif Wacays..
Demographics
Eyl has a population of around 21,700 inhabitants.
The broader
Eyl District
Eyl District ( so, Degmada Eyl) is a district in the northeastern Nugal region of Somalia. Its capital is Eyl
Eyl ( it, Eil) is an ancient port town in the northeastern Nugal region of Somalia in the autonomous Puntland region, also serving as ...
has a total population of around 32,345 residents.
Services
As of 2012, the town has one general hospital serving residents.
Plans are underway to expand delivery. In April 2012, community leaders and civil society representatives met with the Italian Ambassador to Somalia, Andrea Mazzella, to discuss strategies for ameliorating local health and education services.
In October 2014, the Puntland government in conjunction with the local Kaalo NGO and UN-HABITAT launched a new regional census to gather basic information in order to facilitate social service planning and development, as well as tax collection in remote areas. According to senior Puntland officials, a similar survey was already carried out in towns near the principal
Garowe–Bosaso Highway. The new census initiative is slated to begin in the Eyl District, in addition to the
Bayla District
Bander Beila (chief town Bayla), also known as Bander Beyla (Italian: Bander Beila ) is a district in the northeastern Bari region of Puntland It is an old town near the Indian Ocean
The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the bod ...
and
Jariban District
Jariban District ( so, District Jariiban ) is a district in the north-central Mudug region of Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of ...
s.
Education
Eyl has a number of academic institutions. According to the Puntland Ministry of Education, there are currently 13 primary schools in the Eyl District. Among these are Qarxis Primary, Horsed, Kabal and Xasbahal.
Secondary schools in the area include Eyl Secondary.
Economy
Prior to the start of the civil war, Eyl was one of the chief fishing hubs in Somalia. Tuna, lobster, and other high value marine stock were harvested locally for domestic and international seafood markets. The Puntland authorities have since endeavoured to work with the townspeople to rebuild the industry and normalize trade.
As of 2012, several new development projects are slated to be carried out in the town, with the Italian government pledging support.
In September 2013, Puntland Minister of Fisheries, Mohamed Farah Adan, announced that the Puntland government plans to open two new marine training schools in Eyl and
Bandar Siyada
Qaw ( so, Qaw), also known as Bandar Siyada, is a populated place in the northeastern Bari region of Somalia.
Qaw is situated in the Bosaso District of the autonomous Puntland region. The town was founded by the Warsangali and
Majeerteen. It host ...
(Qaw), another northeastern coastal town. The institutes are intended to buttress the regional fisheries industry and enhance the skill set of the Ministry's personnel and local fishermen.
In March 2015, the Ministry of Labour, Youth and Sports in conjunction with the European Union and World Vision launched the Nugal Empowerment for Better Livelihood Project in the Eyl, Garowe, Dangorayo, Godobjiran and Burtinle districts of Puntland. The three-year initiative is valued at $3 million EUR, and is part of the New Deal Compact for Somalia. It aims to buttress the regional economic sector through business support, training and non-formal education programs, community awareness workshops, and mentoring and networking drives.
Media
Media outlets serving Eyl include the
Garowe
Garowe ( so, Garoowe, ar, غَاْرَّوْؤَيَ, -based
Radio Garowe
Radio Garowe is a radio station based in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland region in northeastern Somalia. Established in 2004, the broadcaster transmits programs daily on 89.8 FM. In May 2013, Radio Garowe launched an a ...
, the sister outlet to
Garowe Online
Garowe Online is an independent bilingual news website founded in 2004 and is owned by Garowe News Group, which also owns Radio Garowe. The organisation is based in Garowe, the capital of Puntland State of Somalia. In 2011, ''Garowe Online'' w ...
. The broadcaster launched a new local FM station in March, 2012.
Transportation
In 2012, the
Puntland Highway Authority (PHA) announced a project to connect Eyl and other littoral towns in Puntland to the main regional highway.
The 750 km thoroughfare links major cities in the northern part of Somalia, such as
Bosaso
Bosaso ( so, Boosaaso, ar, بوصاصو), historically known as Bender Cassim is a city in the northeastern Bari province ('' gobol'') of Somalia. It is the seat of the Bosaso District. Located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden, the mu ...
,
Galkayo
Galkayo ( so, Gaalkacyo, ar, جالكعيو Dr Badal Kariye Ba Bsit Ma Mba & Phd, ''The Kaleidoscopic Lover: The Civil War in the Horn of Africa & My Itinerary for a Peaceful Lover'', (AuthorHouse: 2010), p.116.) which in Af-Somali translates to ...
and Garowe, with other towns in the south.
In May 2014, Puntland Vice President
Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar arrived in Eyl to inaugurate a newly completed 27 kilometer paved road between the town and adjacent hamlets.
For air transportation, Eyl is served by the
Eyl Airport
Eyl Airport is an airport serving Eyl (also spelled Eil), a town in the Nugal region in Puntland, Somalia.
Facilities
The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has a runway
According to the International Civil ...
.
Notable residents
*
Hirsi Bulhan Farah – Former Minister in the civilian government of the 1960s, a political prisoner. Former interim chairman of the Somali parliament and entrepreneur.
*
Abdirahman Mohamud Farole
Abdirahman Mohamud Farole ( so, Cabdiraxmaan Maxamuud Faroole; ar, عبد الرحمن محمد; born 1945) is a Somali politician. He served for many years in the government, acting as a governor of the Nugal region of Somalia in the 1990s ...
– former President of Puntland
*
Abdulqawi Yusuf
Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf ( so, Cabdulqaawi Axmed Yuusuf) is a Somali lawyer and judge serving on the International Court of Justice since 2009. He served as the court's president from 2018 to 2021.
Early life
Yusuf was born in the northeastern t ...
– international lawyer and
President of the International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ; french: Cour internationale de justice, links=no; ), sometimes known as the World Court, is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN). It settles disputes between states in accordanc ...
*
Abshir Boyah Pirate leader during
Piracy off the coast of Somalia
Piracy off the coast of Somalia occurs in the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel and Somali Sea, in Somali territorial waters and other surrounding areas and has a long and troubled history with different perspectives from different communities. ...
Notes
{{Reflist, 2
References
Eyl, Somalia
Populated places in Nugal, Somalia
Piracy in Somalia
Populated coastal places in Somalia
Port cities in Africa
Pirate dens and locations