Laascaanood
Encyclopedia
Las Anod is the administrative capital of Sool
region 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
, a self-declared independent republic that is internationally recognized
as an autonomous region of Somalia, the autonomous Puntland
region in northeastern Somalia, and HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose goal is the creation of its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC).
and Ethiopia
.
The overwhelming majority of the town's inhabitants belong to the Darod
clan, notably the Dhulbahante
sub-clan, which is closely associated with Puntland
.
was assassinated in Las Anod by one of his bodyguards.
In 1991, when Somaliland unilaterally declared its independence from Somalia, it claimed Sool and its capital Las Anod, despite the fact that the clans in the area were closely tied to those in the adjacent provinces to the east, particularly Nugaal
. In 2002, after Puntland reorgainzed following its 2001-2002 civil war, Puntland took over administration of Las Anod with the consent of the inhabitants. However, as infrastructure spending in Sool was delayed some Dhulbahante clans felt disinfranchised by the government in Puntland, and sided with Somaliland in the October 2007 take-over by Somaliland. Puntland has been unable to mobilize to retake Las Anod. Las Anod is one of the largest cities in Somalia
, having grown from 20,000 1990 to 250,000. Puntland
assumed control of it in 2002, and Somaliland
took it over in October 2007. Since Somaliland assumed control of the city, some 20,000 civilians moved.
is the main radio station operating in the Sool region from Las Anod.
Sool
Sool is an administrative region in northern Somalia.-Overview:With its capital at Las Anod, Sool is historically known for being the seat of the anti-colonial Dervish movement....
region of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. The city was part of the Dervish State
Dervish State
The Dervish state was an early 20th century Somali Sunni Muslim state that was established by Muhammad Abdullah Hassan, a religious leader who gathered Somali soldiers from across the Horn of Africa and united them into a loyal army known as the Dervishes...
until 1921, when it was incorporated into the former British Somaliland
British Somaliland
British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the northern part of present-day Somalia. For much of its existence, British Somaliland was bordered by French Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Italian Somaliland. From 1940 to 1941, it was occupied by the Italians and was part of Italian East Africa...
protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
.
Local control is disputed between Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
, a self-declared independent republic that is internationally recognized
Diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state...
as an autonomous region of Somalia, the autonomous Puntland
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
region in northeastern Somalia, and HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose goal is the creation of its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC).
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 DjiboutiDjibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
and Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
Demographics
Las Anod is one of the largest cities in Somalia, having grown in size from 20,000 inhabitants in 1990 to 60,000 in 2001. Prior to 1991, the city 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 overwhelming majority of the town's inhabitants belong to the Darod
Darod
The Darod is a Somali clan. The father of this clan is named Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, but is more commonly known as Darod. In the Somali language, the word Daarood means "an enclosed compound," a conflation of the two words daar and ood .The Darod population in Somalia lives principally...
clan, notably the Dhulbahante
Dhulbahante
The Dhulbahante is a Somali clan, and a part of the larger Harti Darod clan. Members of the clan primarily inhabit the Sool, Nugaal, Sanaag and Ayn regions, the Haud, the port city of Kismayo, as well as other areas in the Jubbada Hoose region of southern Somalia.-Tradition:Currently, there are...
sub-clan, which is closely associated with Puntland
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
.
Education
The city has one university and numerous public and private schools. The Nugaal University (NU) which was founded in September, 2004 was the first higher institution school to be established in the area. The University has 60 students as of this year (2009) and 20 of them will graduate on September, 2009 which will make them the first students ever graduated from a university in their home State of Sool.Economy
Las Anod's economy is based on livestock and communications. The area around the city is rich in livestock, while mobile phone services provide almost 40% of tax revenues.History
On October 15, 1969, Somali President Abdirashid Ali ShermarkeAbdirashid Ali Shermarke
Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was Prime Minister of Somalia from July 12, 1960 to June 14, 1964, and President of Somalia from June 10, 1967 until his assassination on October 15, 1969...
was assassinated in Las Anod by one of his bodyguards.
In 1991, when Somaliland unilaterally declared its independence from Somalia, it claimed Sool and its capital Las Anod, despite the fact that the clans in the area were closely tied to those in the adjacent provinces to the east, particularly Nugaal
Nugaal
Nugal is an administrative region in northeastern Somalia.-Overview:It is bordered by Ethiopia and the Somalian regions of Sool to the west, Bari to the north, and Mudug to the south, with the Indian Ocean to the east....
. In 2002, after Puntland reorgainzed following its 2001-2002 civil war, Puntland took over administration of Las Anod with the consent of the inhabitants. However, as infrastructure spending in Sool was delayed some Dhulbahante clans felt disinfranchised by the government in Puntland, and sided with Somaliland in the October 2007 take-over by Somaliland. Puntland has been unable to mobilize to retake Las Anod. Las Anod is one of the largest cities in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, having grown from 20,000 1990 to 250,000. Puntland
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
assumed control of it in 2002, and Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
took it over in October 2007. Since Somaliland assumed control of the city, some 20,000 civilians moved.
Landmarks
Lasanod has several landmarks. Among them are Goolad, Masjid Jama, Ataash, Royal, Durdurka, Darayda, Abdi Bille Football Stadium, Hills of Hilble, and Hills of Sayidka.Media
Radio LaascaanoodRadio Laascaanood
Radio Laascaanood is one of the leading radio stations in Somalia, based in Las Anod. The radio station mainly operates in the Sool region of Somalia.-External links:*...
is the main radio station operating in the Sool region from Las Anod.