Bosaso is a city in the northeastern Bari region (gobol) of Somalia. Located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden, it serves as the province's commercial capital and is a major seaport within the autonomous Puntland state. Formerly known as Bandar Qasim, Bosaso's population is estimated at about 700,000 residents. It is the third largest city in the country after Mogadishu and Hargeisa. While Bosaso is a melting pot, with residents hailing from all the major clans of Somalia, most of its population is from the Harti confederation of Darod sub-clans. The city is relatively peaceful in comparison to the southern parts of Somalia. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea indicates that ancient Greek merchants sailed to Bosaso, providing notes about the strategic and geographical location of the current Bosaso area, which was known as Mosylon in ancient times. Bosaso was previously known as Bandar Qasim, a name derived from a Somali trader of the same name who is said to have first settled in the area during the 14th century. It is believed that Qasim's favourite camel was called Boosaas, from which derived the current name of the town. The town was thus first called Bandar Qassim after its founder ("Qasim's town"), then later dubbed Bosaso after its founder's trusted camel. This story is, however, purely speculative. Historically, Bosaso has been a Harti Darod stronghold, and evolved as a coastal outpost of their Sultanates.[4] Near Bosaso, at the end of the Baladi valley, lies a 2 km to 3 km long earthwork.[5][6] Local tradition recounts that the massive embankment marks the grave of a community matriarch. It is the largest such structure in the wider Horn region.[6] In the mid-18th to early 20th centuries, the city was among the areas ruled by the Majeerteen Sultanate (Migiurtinia). Later forming a part of Italian Somaliland, Bosaso was represented in the parliament of the succeeding Trust Territory of Somalia by the MPs Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf and Ugaas Yassin Ugaas Abdirahman.[7][8] The town would eventually be administered through the official Bari region in the post-independence period. With the start of the Somali Civil War and the subsequent formation of Puntland in the 1990s, Bosaso has become the business capital of the northeastern regions of Somalia. In recent years, it has served as a refueling station for maritime transport between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf ports, and has also become an important commercial point of entry. Bosaso is situated in northeastern Somalia, on the Gulf of Aden coast. Nearby settlements include to the east Rehiss (2.0 nm), to the northeast Mareroo (7.5 nm), to the west El Ad (1.9 nm), to the southwest Laas Gaal (8.8 nm), to the south Lasgoriga (11.2 nm), and to the southeast El Dhurre (19.5 nm).[9] The largest cities in the country most proximate to Bosaso are Erigavo (212 km), Burco (442 km) and Berbera (465 km). Shimbiris, the highest peak in Somalia, is located some 220 km to the southwest in the Cal Madow mountain range. Bosaso has a hot arid climate (Köppen BWh). Coldest average temperatures occur during the winter months of November to February, when thermometer readings range from 24 to 25 °C (75 to 77 °F). The weather slowly heats up in the spring, as the April rainy season begins. Average temperatures later reach a maximum of around 35 °C over the summer period. Come September, a gradual fall chill starts to set in again. Bosaso's total population is estimated at about 700,000 residents.[1] An additional 50,000 registered internally displaced people primarily from conflict-stricken parts of southern Somalia have also sought refuge in camps on the outskirts of the city.[12] Furthermore, Bosaso is a major port for boats carrying emigrants from within the country as well as adjacent territories across the Gulf of Aden to settle (sometimes illegally) in the Persian Gulf states.[2] While Bosaso today is a melting pot, with residents hailing from many different parts of Somalia in addition to some neighboring Northeast African countries like Ethiopia, most of the city's population is from the Harti confederation of Darod sub-clans. Bosaso also has a significant number of Meheri Arabs, known as Arab Salah. Bosaso city affairs are managed by the Bosaso Municipality. Its leadership is appointed by members of the area's 29 District Councils. The municipal authority is currently led by Mayor Hassan Abdallah Hassan, who was unanimously elected to office by council officials in 2011. Hassan previously served as the Deputy Finance Minister of Puntland. Each of the city's various districts also has its own municipal sub-authorities, complete with a mayor and civil servants. Bosaso is a city that is experiencing a period of rapid growth. Prior to the Somali civil war, it had a population of under 50,000 inhabitants. Since the conflict, Somalis belonging to the Harti Darod sub-clans began migrating back to their ancestral areas of Puntland. As a consequence of these migrations, Bosaso's population and the local housing industry have grown tremendously. In December 2011, a new commercial market opened in Bosaso's northern Dayaha ("Star") neighborhood, near the port. Approximately half a kilometer in size, it was designed to ensure easy vehicle access. The market is the result of careful planning between Puntland government officials and civil society representatives.[17] In September 2013, Puntland Minister of Fisheries Mohamed Farah Adan also announced that the Ministry in conjunction with the FAO would open a new fish market in the city, complete with modern refrigators.[18] Bosaso is home to Golis Telecom Somalia, the largest telecommunications operator in northeastern Somalia. Founded in 2002 with the objective of supplying the country with GSM mobile services, fixed line and internet services, it has an extensive network that covers all of the nation's major cities and more than 40 districts in both Puntland and Somaliland.[19] According to The Economist, Golis offers one of the cheapest international calling rates on the planet, at $0.2 USD less than anywhere else in the world.[20] In addition, Netco has its headquarters in the city. Other telecommunication firms serving the region include Telcom and NationLink. In September 2013, Puntland Deputy Minister of Environment Burhan Elmi Hirsi also announced a plan by the Puntland government to establish a gas manufacturing plant in Bosaso. The new project is part of a broader campaign by the Puntland environmental authorities to avert deforestation and promote alternative sources of fuel.[21] Additionally, the Bosaso Tannery is based in the city. A ten year-old manufacturing, distributing, wholesale and import/export company, it processes wet salted, dry salted, wet blue, limed, pickled, and air/frame dried sheep and goat hides and skin. Principle wet blue exports are to Turkey, Pakistan, India and China.Raw camel hides and sheep and goat skin are also exported to the United Arab Emirates. Bosaso is traversed by a 750 km north–south highway. It connects major cities in the northern part of the country, such as Galkayo and Garowe, with towns in the south.[25] In June 2012, the Puntland Highway Authority launched an upgrade and repair project on the large thoroughfare between Bosaso and Garowe.[26] The transportation body also began rehabilitation work in October 2012 on the central artery linking the city with Qardho.[27] Additionally, plans are in the works to construct new roads connecting littoral towns in the region to the main highway.[26] The city has a major seaport, which was constructed during the mid-1980s by the Siad Barre administration for annual livestock shipments to the Middle East. In January 2012, a renovation project was launched, with KMC contracted to upgrade the harbor. The initiative's first phase saw the clean-up of unwanted materials from the dockyard and was completed within the month. The second phase involves the reconstruction of the port's adjoining seabed, with the objective of accommodating larger ships. Besides its busy seaport, Bosaso has a major airport, the Bender Qassim International Airport. In 2008, the Puntland government signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Dubai's Lootah Group, a regional industrial group operating in the Middle East and Africa. According to the agreement, the first phase of the investment is worth Dhs 170m ($46.28m) and will see a set of new companies established to operate, manage and build Bosaso's free trade zone and sea and airport facilities. The Bosaso Airport Company is slated to develop the airport complex to meet international standards, including a new 3.4 km runway, main and auxiliary buildings, taxi and apron areas, and security perimeters. Bosaso has a number of academic institutions. According to the Puntland Ministry of Education, there are 74 primary schools in the Bosaso District. Among these are the Iftin School, Alfurqan, Umul-Qura and Garisa.[30] Secondary schools in the area include Hamdan, Najah, Haji Yasin and Shafi'i.[31] Tertiary education is provided by Bosaso College (BC),[32] as well as the Puntland Nursing Institute (PNI). East Africa University (EAU) also has a Bosaso branch, one of its six campuses in Puntland. Additionally, the Sam Greathouse School of Modern Technology (SG-SMT) has been working with the local government to construct a large scale dial-up network linking Bosaso to other northern Somali cities, including Berbera and Las Anod. Bosaso is home to a number of private media outlets. Radio Daljir, Puntland's largest radio station, has its main headquarters in the city. The broadcaster's network of 7 FM transmitters reaches most of Puntland as well as part of the neighboring Galmudug region to the south. Also centered in Bosaso with its studios in Garowe is the Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Puntland's oldest and second largest private radio station. Additionally, Horseed Radio, Al Xigma, and One Nation Radio have headquarters in the city. In May 2013, Radio Garowe likewise launched a new FM station in Bosaso. The city also has its own private television channels and studios, the Eastern Television Network (ETN TV) and SBC TV. Bosaso has white sandy beaches and clear sea water with a reef. Popular activities in the city include visiting internet cafés and coffee shops. Additionally, there are many hotels that offer accommodation. Among the most prominent are the Hotel Huruuse, the Tropical, and the Hotel Juba.The International Village hotel is especially noted for its domesticated ostriches. The outskirts of Bosaso feature mountains, lakes and grasslands, with wildlife and trees. A panoramic view of the city's skyline can also be observed. Bosaso is subdivided into sixteen administrative districts. Each of the city's various official subdivisions possesses its own unique history.