Maydh
Encyclopedia
Maydh is an ancient town in the Sanaag
region of northern Somalia
.
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).
Isahaq (Sheekh Isaxaaq), who, according to tradition, moved to Somalia from the Arabian Peninsula
in the 12th or 13th century CE. Sheikh Isaaq is considered to be the founding father of the large Isaaq
clan that primarily inhabits the Somaliland
region of Somalia, as well as parts of Djibouti
and the Ogaden
. Sheikh Isaaq's domed tomb is also located here. The graves of the ancestors of the Issa
and Gadabuursi
clans, whose territories are several hundred miles away, are located nearby.
Northern Somalia in general is home to numerous such archaeological site
s, with similar edifices found at Haylaan
, Qa’ableh
, Qombo'ul
and Elaayo
. 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.
, the Habar Yoonis sub-clan of the Isaaq is especially well-represented in the town.
Maydh has one elementary school and one middle school, but no secondary school. There are no health facilities in the town. The closest hospital is the Ceerigaabo
General Hospital, which is situated about 79 km (49.1 mi) to the southeast.
Maydh Island is situated about 30 km (18.6 mi) to the northeast in the Gulf of Aden
.
Sanaag
Sanaag is an administrative region in northern Somalia. Its capital city is Erigavo.Sanaag has a long coastline facing the Gulf of Aden to the north, and is bordered by the Somali regions of Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sool and Bari....
region of northern 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...
.
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).
History
The city of Maydh was was home to SheikhSheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Isahaq (Sheekh Isaxaaq), who, according to tradition, moved to Somalia from the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
in the 12th or 13th century CE. Sheikh Isaaq is considered to be the founding father of the large Isaaq
Isaaq
The Isaaq is one of the main Somali clans. Members of the clan principally live in the northwestern Somaliland region of Somalia, and the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The populations of five major cities of Somaliland – Hargeisa, Burco, Berbera, Ceerigaabo and Gabiley – are predominantly Isaaq...
clan that primarily inhabits the 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...
region of Somalia, as well as parts of Djibouti
Djibouti
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 the Ogaden
Ogaden
Ogaden is the name of a territory comprising the southeastern portion of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia. The inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The title "Somali Galbeed", which means "Western Somalia," is often preferred by Somali irredentists.The region, which is...
. Sheikh Isaaq's domed tomb is also located here. The graves of the ancestors of the Issa
Issa (clan)
The Issa are a Somali clan, a sub-clan of the Dir. The Issa primarily reside in Djibouti, the extreme northwestern fringe in the Awdal district of Somaliland in northern Somalia, as well as the Shinile Zone located in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.-Lineage:...
and Gadabuursi
Gadabuursi
The Gadabuursi , also known as Samaroon, is a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir.Most Gadabuursi members are descendants of Sheikh Samaroon...
clans, whose territories are several hundred miles away, are located nearby.
Northern Somalia in general is home to numerous such archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
s, with similar edifices found at Haylaan
Haylaan
Haylaan, also known as Haylan, is an ancient town in the northern Sanaag region of Somalia.-Overview:An old settlement, Haylaan is the site of numerous ancient ruins and buildings, many of obscure origins. Northern Somalia in general is home to numerous such archaeological sites...
, Qa’ableh
Qa’ableh
Qa’ableh is a town in the northern Sanaag region of Somalia. It is the site of numerous archaeological structures and tombs.-Overview:Qa'ableh is located near the Haylaan historical ruins. An ancient city, it is home to numerous archaeological sites and structures, similar to those found in...
, Qombo'ul
Qombo'ul
-Overview:Qombo'ul lies approximately 40km east of Badhan, on the road to Bosaaso and west of the town of Mindigale.An old settlement, it is the site of quite a few ancient ruins, buildings and structures, many of obscure origins. Northern Somalia in general is home to numerous such archaeological...
and Elaayo
Elaayo
Elaayo , also known as Elayo or Elayum, is an ancient coastal town in the northern Sanaag region of Somalia.-History:An old city, Elaayo is home to numerous archaeological sites and historic buildings, similar to those found in Las Khorey, another coastal town in Sanaag...
. 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.
Overview
Maydh has an estimated population of 30,000 residents., the Habar Yoonis sub-clan of the Isaaq is especially well-represented in the town.
Maydh has one elementary school and one middle school, but no secondary school. There are no health facilities in the town. The closest hospital is the Ceerigaabo
Ceerigaabo
Erigavo or Erigabo is the administrative capital of the Sanaag region in northern Somalia.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...
General Hospital, which is situated about 79 km (49.1 mi) to the southeast.
Maydh Island is situated about 30 km (18.6 mi) to the northeast in the Gulf of Aden
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide....
.