El Ayo

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El Ayo is one of a series of ancient settlements in Somalia. About one mile from the town are the ruins of an old city, which are held to have belonged to an earlier civilization which resided in the region. Between El Ayo and Las Khorey lies Karinhegane, the site of numerous cave paintings of real and mythical animals. Each painting has an inscription below it, which collectively have been estimated to be around 2,500 years old.{{cite book|last=Hodd|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bL8tAQAAIAAJ|title=East African Handbook|publisher=Trade & Travel Publications|year=1994|isbn=0844289833|page=640}}{{cite book|last=Ali|first=Ismail Mohamed|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tMVAAAAAYAAJ|title=Somalia Today: General Information|publisher=Ministry of Information and National Guidance, Somali Democratic Republic|year=1970|page=295}} Around 25 miles from Las Khorey lies Gelweita, another key rock art site. Karinhegane's rock art is in the same distinctive style as the Laas Geel cave paintings.{{cite web|title=Rock Art Sites of Somaliland|url=http://archive.cyark.org/rock-art-sites-of-somaliland-info|publisher=CyArk|accessdate=28 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329002706/http://archive.cyark.org/rock-art-sites-of-somaliland-info|archive-date=29 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

Additionally, a number of small- to medium-sized cairns are especially concentrated on the plain that lies between the coast adjacent to El Ayo and an inland ridge around 2 km in length.{{cite book|last=Chittick|first=Neville|title=An Archaeological Reconnaissance of the Horn: The British-Somali Expedition|year=1975|pages=117–133}} Eastern Somaliland in general is home to numerous such archaeological sites, with similar edifices found at Haylan, Qa’ableh, Qombo'ul and Maydh. 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.

El Ayo was also an early local hub of Islam, with the religion spreading through maritime enterprise.{{cite web|last=Yusuf |first=Jama |title=Maakhir: knowledge and civilization home of Somalia |url=http://www.somalivoice.net/?p=2859 |publisher=Somali Voice |accessdate=15 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325015624/http://www.somalivoice.net/?p=2859 |archivedate=March 25, 2012 }}

However, during the period of British Somaliland, the coastal settlements in this area gradually declined. This is because modern port facilities were built in places such as Berbera and Djibouti, and the British moved their administrative center to the cooler inland areas.{{Cite CiteSeerX |author=Somaliland Centre for Peace and Development |date=December 1999 |title=A Self-Portrait of Somaliland: Rebuilding from the Ruins |page=13|citeseerx=10.1.1.111.1820 }}

Since 2008, al-Shabaab, which used to be active in southern Somalia, has moved into the area, and in northern Somalia, it is believed to be based in the mountainous areas around Bosaso and El Ayo.{{Cite web |author=LANDINFO |date=2020-04-07 |url=https://landinfo.no/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Query-response-Somalia-The-security-situation-in-northwestern-Somalia-Somaliland-07042020.pdf |title=Somalia: The security situation in northwestern Somalia (Somaliland)

|accessdate=2021-05-29}}

In February 2012, a ship that had sunk off the coast of El Ayo was found on the coast of Cadcado, 70 kilometers from Las Qoray.{{Cite news |title=Maydadka tahriibayaal ku geeriyooday xeebaha Ceelaayo oo la helay. |newspaper=daljir.com |date=2012-02-14 |url=https://www.daljir.com/maydadka-tahriibayaal-ku-geeriyooday-xeebaha-ceelaayo-oo-la-helay/ |accessdate=2021-05-27 }}

In November 2013, a major cyclone hit the El Ayo area, damaging many coastal boats and about 100 sheep.{{Cite news |title=Duufaano Culus oo ku dhuftay Deegaanka Ceelaayo ee Gobolka Badhan ee Somaliland |newspaper=Somali diaspora news |date=2013-11-12 |url=http://www.qurbejoog.com/duufaano-culus-oo-ku-dhuftay-deegaanka-ceelaayo-ee-gobolka-badhan-ee-somaliland/ |accessdate=2021-05-29 }}

In February 2016, the Puntland Navy arrested an arms smuggler based in El Ayo.{{Cite news |title=Puntland: Iska hor-imaad ka dhacay Ceelaayo Bari |newspaper=Garowe online |date=2016-02-13 |url=https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/puntland-iska-hor-imaad-ka-dhacay-ceelaayo-bari |accessdate=2021-05-29 }}

According to a July 2017 report, there is a constant flow of illegal migrants from Somalia's northern coast to Yemen on the other side of the river, but El Ayo is considered unpopular due to the presence of an airport and Puntland Maritime Police Force base along the road.{{Cite web |author=Research & Evidence Facility |date=2017-07-25 |url=https://www.soas.ac.uk/ref-hornresearch/research-papers/file122639.pdf |title=Migration Between the Horn of Africa and Yemen |accessdate=2021-05-29}}

In August 2018, Puntland Security Force provide supplies to El Ayo.{{Cite news |title=Ciidamadda PSF oo qalab waxbarasho geyaay degaanka Ceelaayo (dhegayso) |newspaper=daljir |date=2018-08-16 |url=https://www.daljir.com/ciidamadda-psf-oo-qalab-waxbarasho-geyaay-degaanka-ceelaayo-dhegayso/ |accessdate=2021-05-27 }}

In December 2019, the surrounding area, including El Ayo, met with flooding.{{Cite news |title=Guddoomiyaha Badhan oo ka Hadlay Khasaare ka Dhashay Roobab ka Da'ay Deegaanka |newspaper=Beegso news |date=2019-12-12 |url=https://www.beegsonews.com/guddoomiyaha-badhan-oo-ka-hadlay-khasaare-ka-dhashay-roobab-ka-daay-deegaanka/ |accessdate=2021-05-29 }}

In October 2020, Puntland security forces seized a boat belonging to an arms smuggler based off the coast of Rascaley, El Ayo, and Cadcad.{{Cite news |title=Ciidamada Puntland Ee PSF Oo Qabtay Doonyo Iyo Saxiimado Wadey Hub Sharci Darro Ah |newspaper=Horseed media |date=2020-10-24 |url=https://horseedmedia.net/2020/10/24/ciidamada-puntland-ee-psf-oo-qabtay-doonyo-iyo-saxiimado-wadey-hub-sharci-darro-ah/ |accessdate=2021-05-29 }}

In January 2021, the Somaliland government attempted to conduct voter registration in preparation for elections in the Sanaag region, including El Ayo, but the government of Puntland announced that it would oppose the attempt with force.{{Cite news |title=Puntland oo ka hortimid qorshaha Somaliland ee diiwaangalinta Gobolka Sanaag |newspaper=Muqdisho online |date=2021-01-11 |url=https://muqdisho.online/puntland-oo-ka-hortimid-qorshaha-somaliland-ee-diiwaan-galinta-gobolka-sanaag/ |accessdate=2021-05-29 }}

In March 2021, the Puntland Maritime Police Force conducted a crackdown along the northern coast of Somalia, including El Ayo, seizing 10 boats and arresting their crews for illegal fishing by Yemenis.{{Cite news |title=Puntland: Doonyo loo qabtey kalluumeysi sharci darro ah |newspaper=Garowe online |date=2021-03-15 |url=https://www.garoweonline.com/index.php/en/news/somalia/puntland-doonyo-loo-qabtey-kalluumeysi-sharci-darro-ah |accessdate=2021-05-29 }}

In August 2021, Puntland security forces attacked Al-Shabaab, which was based in the nearby mountainous region of El Ayo and other areas, and destroyed their strongholds.{{Cite news |title=Ciidanka Puntland oo duulaan ku qaaday Alshabaab iyo macluumaad la soo bandhigay. |newspaper=puntlandtimes.ca |date=2021-08-29 |url=https://puntlandtimes.ca/2021/08/ciidanka-puntland-oo-duulaan-ku-qaaday-alshabaab-iyo-macluumaad-la-soo-bandhigay/ |accessdate=2022-01-04 }}

• Haylan
• Qa’ableh
• Qombo'ul
• Maydh

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Ali|first=Ismail Mohamed|title=Somalia Today: General Information|year=1970|publisher=Ministry of Information and National Guidance, Somali Democratic Republic|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tMVAAAAAYAAJ}}

Category:Populated places in Sanaag

Category:Cities in Somaliland

Category:Archaeological sites of Eastern Africa