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Las Khorey

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Las Qoray (Somali: Laasqoray, Arabic: لاسقُرَى Lāsqoray) is a historic coastal town in the Sanaag region of Somalia.

Las Qoray
Laasqoray
لاسقُرَي
Town
View of a residential area in old Las Qoray.
View of a residential area in old Las Qoray.
Las Qoray is located in Sanaag
Las Qoray
Las Qoray
Location in Somalia
Las Qoray is located in Somalia
Las Qoray
Las Qoray
Las Qoray (Somalia)
Coordinates: 11°11′N 48°13′E / 11.183°N 48.217°E / 11.183; 48.217
Country Somalia
RegionSanaag
DistrictBadhan District
Population
 (2021[1])
 • Total
15,000
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)

BBC reported in 2021, "The Navy or Somaliland Coast Guard is one of the military departments of Somaliland, operating on the coast of Somaliland in Las Qoray, Zeila and Berbera."[2] Somaliland National TV (SLNTV) reported in its September 2023 broadcast that Las Qoray is a territory of Somaliland.[3] Hiiraan Online reported in a January 2024 article, "Las Qoray is outside Hargeisa's control."[4] Andrew Palmer, CEO of the maritime consultancy Idarat Ltd, describes Las Qoray as "on the north coast of Puntland" in 2014.[5] Awet Tewelde Weldemichael, an associate professor at Queen's University, wrote in his book "Puntland coast between Las Qoray and Hafun" in 2019.[6]

History

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Ancient times

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Ruins of Las Qoray.

The Las Qoray settlement is several centuries old. Between the town and El Ayo lies Karinhegane, a site containing numerous cave paintings of both real and mythical animals. Each painting has an inscription below it, which collectively have been estimated to be around 2,500 years old.[7][8] Around 25 miles (40 km) from Las Qoray is found Gelweita, another key rock art site.[8] Karinhegane's rock art is in the same distinctive Ethiopian-Arabian style as the Laas Gaal cave paintings.[9][10]

Somaliland is home to numerous such archaeological sites, with similar edifices found at Haylan, Qa’ableh, Qombo'ul and El Ayo. 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.[11]

Medieval to Early Modern

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In the 13th century, Dhidhin, chief of Warsangali, a branch of Darod, rose to power around now Las Qoray and took the title of Garaad as the monarch's title.[12][13]

The town of Las Qoray began in 1735 when Al-sheikh Cali Maxamud Nuux of the Ugaslabe/Warsangali clan built a mosque and prospered through trade with Swahili, Zanzibar, Arabia, India, etc.[14]

Mohamoud Ali Shire, who became Sultan of Warsangali at the end of the 19th century, made Las Qoray his base. However, there were several bases, and during the hot summer months, they were based in the cooler valleys in the south, away from the coast.[15]

Modern

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In 1986, executives from the American oil company Chevron visited Las Qoray at the request of the Somali government and found traces of oil.[16]

The Somali Civil War broke out around 1988; in 1991, Somaliland declared the independence; in 1998, Puntland declared the establish. Both countries are stability relatively quickly, with Somaliland trying to expand its power to the east and Puntland to the west. The two sides engaged in a military confrontation around the Warsangali residential area (Puntland-Somaliland dispute.)

In April 2011, Puntland government arrested 16 pirates in Las Qoray.[17]

In July 2011, a British research vessel was authorized by the Somaliland government to visit Las Khorey, but the stationed Puntland military refused.[18]

Former president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (Siilaanyo) visited the town in March 2014 along with a delegation including then Minister of Health Suleiman Haglotosiye. The restoration of Las Qoray's industries, among them its famous tuna factory, as well as the planned construction of a hospital for the town was announced during the visit.[19][20]

In 2017, voter registration for the 2017 Somaliland presidential election took place throughout Somaliland, but there were no registrations from Dhahar and Las Qoray districts.[21]

In December 2019, flooding in the Las Qoray area caused missing people and flooded and isolated roads to and from surrounding neighborhoods.[22]

In February 2020, Somaliland's Badhan Regional Governor Mohamud Hamd Omar visited Las Khorey district with Somaliland army. The Puntland army with Ali Hussein Somali, governor of Sanaag region of Puntland, attacked it.[23][24]

During the conflict between July 2021 and November 2022, Las Qoray had the largest number of exodus in Sanaag.[25]: 177  Meanwhile, in October 2021, the Somaliland government began the forced deportation of hundreds of people they defined as "non-Somalilanders" from some areas of Sanaag. However, it is reported that Las Qoray is very unlikely to be targeted.[25]: 177 

In March 2023, Puntland's Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, in cooperation with Secure Fisheries, an agency working to develop the fishing industry, launched a Fisheries Partnership Management Program in the Las Qoray area.[26]

Transportation

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The old port in Las Qoray is undergoing extensive renovations.

Las Qoray has a jetty-class seaport, the Port of Las Qoray.[27] Horn Relief (now Adeso), an organization founded by Somali environmentalist Fatima Jibrell, began a project for the redevelopment of the 400-year-old seaport. The initiative was later taken up by Faisal Hawar, CEO of the Maakhir Resource Company. In 2012, he brokered an agreement with a Greek investment firm for the development of the commercial Las Qoray Port.[28] A team of engineers was subsequently enlisted by the Puntland authorities to assess the ongoing renovations taking place at the seaport.[29] According to the Minister of Ports, Saeed Mohamed Ragge, the Puntland government intends to launch more such development projects in Las Khorey.[30]

The nearest airport to Las Qoray is the Bender Qassim International Airport in Bosaso.

Demographics

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Las Qoray has a population of around 2,000 inhabitants.[31] The broader Las Qoray area has a total population of 34,724 residents.[32]

Economy

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Las Qoray has long been an exporter of livestock, fish, produce, and frankincense. On the other hand, they imported rice, wheat, sugar, clothing, etc.[13]

 
Las Qoray canned foods

Canned tuna is well known and "Las Qoray" is accepted as like a trademark. In 1970, the Somali government built a fish cannery with a pier for fishing boats, and it became a major industry in Las Qoray. In addition to tuna, shark fins are also taken for export.[33]

The factory, which had been shut down due to the Somali civil war, reopened in 2001,[33] but was closed shortly after. The facility was modernized and reopened in 2007.[34] At that time, there were 2,800 fishermen and factory workers.[35] On August 12, Hodman Trading Company, a company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, acquired the entire plant of Las Qoray.[36] In 2012, it was reported that they were exporting to Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.[37] In 2019, the BBC reports that fakes are on the market.[38] Las Qoray's cannery will remain shut down as of April 2021.[39]

  •  
    Processing fish.(2006)
  •  
    Making canned food.(2008)

Notable Resident

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Notes

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  1. ^ unicef (September 2002). "SANAAG REGION NUTRITION SURVEY REPORT" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  2. ^ "Wax ka ogow awoodda iyo qaybaha ciidanka Somaliland" [Find out about the strength and components of the Somaliland force]. BBC. 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  3. ^ Gudoomiyaha Degmada laas-Qoray ayaa murugada iyo dhibaatada la qaybsanaya masiibadii dabka ahayd... [The governor of Las-Qoray District shares the grief and suffering of the fire disaster....] (in Somali), retrieved 2023-12-31
  4. ^ "Analysis: A port deal puts the Horn of Africa on the brink". Horseed Media. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  5. ^ Andrew Palmer (2014-08-15). The New Pirates - Modern Global Piracy from Somalia to the South China Sea. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 9780857725271.
  6. ^ Awet Tewelde Weldemichael (2019-01-24). Piracy in Somalia - Violence and Development in the Horn of Africa. Cambridge University Press. p. 168. ISBN 9781108496964.
  7. ^ Hodd, Michael (1994). East African Handbook. Trade & Travel Publications. p. 640. ISBN 0844289833.
  8. ^ a b Ali, Ismail Mohamed (1970). Somalia Today: General Information. Ministry of Information and National Guidance, Somali Democratic Republic. p. 295.
  9. ^ Istituto universitario orientale (Naples, Italy) (1992). Annali: Supplemento, Issues 70-73. Istituto orientale di Napoli. p. 57.
  10. ^ "Rock Art Sites of Somaliland". CyArk. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  11. ^ Michael Hodd, East African Handbook, (Trade & Travel Publications: 1994), p.640.
  12. ^ Philip Briggs (2012). Somaliland: With Addis Ababa & Eastern Ethiopia. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-371-9. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  13. ^ a b SomaiaReport (2012-06-20). "What is Lasqoray?". Archived from the original on 2022-02-05. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  14. ^ "MAXAAD KA OGTAHAY TAARIIKHA GUUNKA AH EE DEGMADA LAASQORAY IYO MAGACII WAAYADII HORE LA ODHAN JIRAY XIGASHO QORE , C/CASIIS MAXAMUD". berberatoday.com. 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  15. ^ "Shan goobood oo loo dalxiis tago oo ku yaalla dhulka Soomaalida". bbc.com. 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  16. ^ "Part Two: What is Lasqoray?". piracyreport.com. 2012-06-27. Archived from the original on 2022-07-26. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  17. ^ "Lix iyo tobon burcadbadeed ah oo maanta lagu xiray Laasqoray, ka dib makii uu daadiyey markab laga leeyahay Norway". daljir.com. 2011-04-21. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  18. ^ "Markab laga leeyahay waddanka Britain oo loo diiday in uu ku xirto marsada degmada Laasqoray". daljir.com. 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  19. ^ "Wafdi Somaliland oo Laasqoray booqday". BBC News Somali (in Somali). 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  20. ^ "Puntland: Waan argagaxnay markii aan maqalnay Siilaanyo oo jooga Lasqoray". Caasimada Online. 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  21. ^ "Tirada codbixiyayaasha Somaliland oo la shaaciyay". bbc.com. 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  22. ^ "DAD LAGU WAAYAY DEGMADA LAASQORAY OO XAALAD GO'DOON AH KU SUGAN". puntlandpost.net. 2019-12-08. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  23. ^ "Wasiir ku xigeenka Gaadiidka oo Ka Hadlay Weerar Puntland ku Soo Qaadday Laasqoray oo Ciidanka Qaranku Dhirbaaxo Kulul Gaadhsiiyay". wargeyskadawan.com. 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  24. ^ "PUNTLAND IYO SOMALILAND OO KU DAGAALLAMAY DEGMADA LAASQORAY". puntlandpost.net. 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  25. ^ a b euaa (2023). "Somalia: Security Situation" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  26. ^ "Barnaamijka maamul wadaaga kalluumeysiga oo laga daah furay Laasqoray". radiobeerlula.so. 2023-03-11. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  27. ^ "Istanbul conference on Somalia 21 – 23 May 2010 - Draft discussion paper for Round Table "Transport infrastructure"" (PDF). Government of Somalia. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  28. ^ "A Visionary, Faisal Hawar; Somali Public Radio Person of the Year 2012". Somali Public Radio. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  29. ^ Somalia: Somaliland naval forces attack crew in Sanaag region Archived 2013-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ "Somalia: Puntland Minister of Ports visits Lasqoray". Garowe Online. 17 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  31. ^ unicef (September 2002). "SANAAG REGION NUTRITION SURVEY REPORT" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  32. ^ "Regions, districts, and their populations: Somalia 2005 (draft)" (PDF). UNDP. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  33. ^ a b Academy for Peace and Development (July 2002). "Regulating the Livestock Economy of Somaliland" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  34. ^ "Warshada Laas-Qoray oo dib u hawl gashay". BBC Somali. 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  35. ^ REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND (December 2011). "National Development Plan (2012-2016)" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  36. ^ "Shirkad Cusub oo gatatey Warshada kaluunka Ee Laas Qoray". LaasqorayNet. 2007-08-13. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  37. ^ "Somaliland: Puntland Militias Chased out of Las Qoray". Somaliland Sum. 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  38. ^ "Waa kee waddanka "qaatay" magacii warshadda kalluunka ee Laasqoray?". BBC. 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  39. ^ "Warshaddii Kalluunka Laasqoray: Dayac, Baaba' & Burbur (sawirro)". daljir. 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-05-03.

References

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