{{protection padlock|small=yes}} {{pp-move}} {{Infobox settlement | name = | official_name = Las Qoray | native_name = ''Laasqoray'' | other_name = لاسقُرَي | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Laasqoray over view.jpg | imagesize = 250px | image_caption = View of a residential area in old Las Qoray. | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Sanaag#Somalia | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Somalia | coordinates = {{coord|11|11|N|48|13|E|region:SO-SA|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Somalia}} / {{flag|Somaliland}} (Disputed) | subdivision_type1 = [[States and regions of Somalia|Regional State]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of Somalia|Region]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Sanaag]] | subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Somalia|District]] | subdivision_name3 = [[Badhan District]] | established_title = | established_date = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = 15000 | population_as_of = 2021<ref>{{Cite web |author=unicef |date=September 2002 |url=https://www.fsnau.org/downloads/Sanaag%20Survey%20-%20May%202002.pdf |title=SANAAG REGION NUTRITION SURVEY REPORT |accessdate=2021-07-11 |archive-date=2021-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711080102/https://www.fsnau.org/downloads/Sanaag%20Survey%20-%20May%202002.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> | population_footnotes = | population_density_km2 = | population_note = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = | timezone = [[East Africa Time|EAT]] | utc_offset = +3 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | blank_name = | blank_info = }}
'''Las Qoray''' ({{langx|so|Laasqoray}}, {{langx|ar|لاسقُرَى}} {{Transliteration|ar|Lāsqoray}}) is a historic coastal town in the [[Sanaag]] region of [[Somalia]].
BBC reported in 2021, "The Navy or [[Somalia Coast Guard]] is one of the military departments of [[Somalia]], operating on the coast of Somaliland in Las Qoray, [[Zeila]] and [[Berbera]]."<ref name=bbc20211103>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/somali/war-59144936|title=Wax ka ogow awoodda iyo qaybaha ciidanka Somaliland|trans-title=Find out about the strength and components of the Somaliland force|author=|date=2021-11-03|work=BBC|access-date=2024-03-17}}</ref> [[Somaliland National TV]] (SLNTV) reported in its September 2023 broadcast that Las Qoray is a territory of [[Somaliland]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Gudoomiyaha Degmada laas-Qoray ayaa murugada iyo dhibaatada la qaybsanaya masiibadii dabka ahayd.... |trans-title=The governor of Las-Qoray District shares the grief and suffering of the fire disaster....|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-DUSM-hUk8 |access-date=2023-12-31 |language=so}}</ref> [[Hiiraan Online]] reported in a January 2024 article, "Las Qoray is outside Hargeisa's control."<ref name=hm20240126>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2024/Jan/194755/analysis_a_port_deal_puts_the_horn_of_africa_on_the_brink.aspx|title=Analysis: A port deal puts the Horn of Africa on the brink|author=|date=2024-01-26|work=Horseed Media|access-date=2024-03-02}}</ref> Andrew Palmer, CEO of the maritime consultancy Idarat Ltd, describes Las Qoray as "on the north coast of [[Puntland]]" in 2014.<ref name=palmer2014>{{Cite book|url=|title=The New Pirates - Modern Global Piracy from Somalia to the South China Sea|author=Andrew Palmer|date=2014-08-15|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|pages=121|isbn=9780857725271}}</ref> Awet Tewelde Weldemichael, an associate professor at [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]], wrote in his book "Puntland coast between Las Qoray and [[Hafun]]" in 2019.<ref name=Weldemichael2019>{{Cite book|url=|title=Piracy in Somalia - Violence and Development in the Horn of Africa|author=Awet Tewelde Weldemichael|date=2019-01-24|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=168|isbn=9781108496964}}</ref>
==History== ===Ancient times=== [[File:LaasqorayRuins09.JPG|thumb|left|200px|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.<ref name="Mheah">{{cite book|last=Hodd|first=Michael|title=East African Handbook|year=1994|publisher=Trade & Travel Publications|isbn=0844289833|page=640|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bL8tAQAAIAAJ}}</ref><ref name="Astgi">{{cite book|last=Ali|first=Ismail Mohamed|title=Somalia Today: General Information|year=1970|publisher=Ministry of Information and National Guidance, Somali Democratic Republic|page=295|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tMVAAAAAYAAJ}}</ref> Around {{convert|25|mile}} from Las Qoray is found [[Gelweita]], another key rock art site.<ref name="Astgi"/> Karinhegane's rock art is in the same distinctive Ethiopian-Arabian style as the [[Laas Gaal]] cave paintings.<ref name="Iodn">{{cite book|last=Istituto universitario orientale (Naples, Italy)|title=Annali: Supplemento, Issues 70-73|date=1992|publisher=Istituto orientale di Napoli|page=57|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DbhiAAAAMAAJ}}</ref><ref name="Crasos">{{cite web|title=Rock Art Sites of Somaliland|url=http://archive.cyark.org/rock-art-sites-of-somaliland-info|publisher=CyArk|access-date=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}}</ref>
Somaliland is home to numerous such [[archaeological site]]s, 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.<ref name="Hodd">Michael Hodd, ''East African Handbook'', (Trade & Travel Publications: 1994), p.640.</ref>
=== Medieval to Early Modern === In the 13th century, [[Gerad Dhidhin|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.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Philip Briggs |date= 2012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M6NI2FejIuwC&dq=Las+Khorey+Warsangali&pg=PA12 |title=Somaliland: With Addis Ababa & Eastern Ethiopia |publisher= Bradt Travel Guides|isbn= 978-1-84162-371-9|accessdate=2023-12-09}}</ref><ref name=sr2012/>
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 people|Swahili]], [[Zanzibar]], [[Arabia]], [[India]], etc.<ref name=bt20170417/>
[[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.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=bbc.com |date=2023-09-20 |url=https://www.bbc.com/somali/articles/cj79mxdl32do|title=Shan goobood oo loo dalxiis tago oo ku yaalla dhulka Soomaalida |accessdate=2023-12-09|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>
===Modern=== In 1986, executives from the American oil company [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] visited Las Qoray at the request of the Somali government and found traces of oil.<ref name=pr20120627/>
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.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=daljir.com |date=2011-04-21 |url=https://www.daljir.com/lix-iyo-tobon-burcadbadeed-ah-oo-maanta-lagu-xiray-laasqoray-ka-dib-makii-uu-daadiyey-markab-laga-leeyahay-norway/|title=Lix iyo tobon burcadbadeed ah oo maanta lagu xiray Laasqoray, ka dib makii uu daadiyey markab laga leeyahay Norway. |accessdate=2023-12-09|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>
In July 2011, a British research vessel was authorized by the Somaliland government to visit Las Khorey, but the stationed Puntland military refused.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=daljir.com |date=2011-07-09 |url=https://www.daljir.com/markab-laga-leeyahay-waddanka-britain-oo-loo-diiday-in-uu-ku-xirto-marsada-degmada-laasqoray/|title=Markab laga leeyahay waddanka Britain oo loo diiday in uu ku xirto marsada degmada Laasqoray. |accessdate=2023-12-09|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2014-03-16|title=Wafdi Somaliland oo Laasqoray booqday|url=https://www.bbc.com/somali/war/2014/03/140316_somaliland|access-date=2021-06-14|website=BBC News Somali|language=so}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-03-16|title=Puntland: Waan argagaxnay markii aan maqalnay Siilaanyo oo jooga Lasqoray|url=https://www.caasimada.net/deg-deg-puntland-oo-ka-jawaabi-rabta-socdaalka-siilaayo-uu-ku-joogo-laasqoray/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Caasimada Online|language=en-US}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=bbc.com |date=2017-10-10 |url=https://www.bbc.com/somali/war-41565729|title=Tirada codbixiyayaasha Somaliland oo la shaaciyay |accessdate=2023-12-09|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>
In December 2019, flooding in the Las Qoray area caused missing people and flooded and isolated roads to and from surrounding neighborhoods.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=puntlandpost.net |date=2019-12-08 |url=https://puntlandpost.net/2019/12/08/dad-lagu-waayay-degmada-laasqoray-oo-xaalad-godoon-ah-ku-sugan/|title=DAD LAGU WAAYAY DEGMADA LAASQORAY OO XAALAD GO'DOON AH KU SUGAN |accessdate=2023-12-09|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=wargeyskadawan.com |date=2020-02-26 |url=https://wargeyskadawan.com/2020/02/26/wasiir-ku-xigeenka-gaadiidka-oo-ka-hadlay-weerar-puntland-ku-soo-qaadday-laasqoray-oo-ciidanka-qaranku-dhirbaaxo-kulul-gaadhsiiyay/|title=Wasiir ku xigeenka Gaadiidka oo Ka Hadlay Weerar Puntland ku Soo Qaadday Laasqoray oo Ciidanka Qaranku Dhirbaaxo Kulul Gaadhsiiyay |accessdate=2023-12-09|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=puntlandpost.net |date=2020-02-25 |url=https://puntlandpost.net/2020/02/25/puntland-iyo-somaliland-oo-ku-dagaallamay-laasqoray/|title=PUNTLAND IYO SOMALILAND OO KU DAGAALLAMAY DEGMADA LAASQORAY |accessdate=2023-12-09|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>
During the conflict between July 2021 and November 2022, Las Qoray had the largest number of exodus in Sanaag.<ref name=euaa2023/>{{rp|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.<ref name=euaa2023/>{{rp|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.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=radiobeerlula.so |date=2023-03-11 |url=https://radiobeerlula.so/barnaamijka-maamul-wadaaga-kalluumeysiga-oo-laga-daah-furay-laasqoray/|title=Barnaamijka maamul wadaaga kalluumeysiga oo laga daah furay Laasqoray. |accessdate=2023-12-09|archiveurl=|archivedate=}}</ref>
==Transportation== [[File:OldPortLaasqoray.jpg|thumb|left|170px|The old port in Las Qoray is undergoing extensive renovations.]] Las Qoray has a [[jetty]]-class [[seaport]], the [[Port of Las Qoray]].<ref name="Icsti">{{cite web|title=Istanbul conference on Somalia 21 – 23 May 2010 - Draft discussion paper for Round Table "Transport infrastructure"|url=http://www.somalitalk.com/2010/may/istambul/transport.pdf|publisher=Government of Somalia|access-date=31 August 2013}}</ref> [[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.<ref name="Avfhsprpty">{{cite news|title=A Visionary, Faisal Hawar; Somali Public Radio Person of the Year 2012|url=http://spr.fm/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=4307:a-visionary-faisal-hawar-somali-public-radio-person-of-the-year-2012&Itemid=121|access-date=28 September 2014|agency=Somali Public Radio|date=13 January 2013}}</ref> A team of engineers was subsequently enlisted by the Puntland authorities to assess the ongoing renovations taking place at the seaport.<ref name="Gossnfacisr">[http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Somaliland_naval_forces_attack_crew_in_Sanaag_region.shtml Somalia: Somaliland naval forces attack crew in Sanaag region] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017121412/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Somaliland_naval_forces_attack_crew_in_Sanaag_region.shtml |date=2013-10-17 }}</ref> According to the Minister of Ports, Saeed Mohamed Ragge, the Puntland government intends to launch more such development projects in Las Khorey.<ref name="Gspmopvl">{{cite news|title=Somalia: Puntland Minister of Ports visits Lasqoray|url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Puntland_Minister_of_Ports_visits_Lasqoray_printer.shtml|access-date=13 November 2012|newspaper=Garowe Online|date=17 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017121302/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Puntland_Minister_of_Ports_visits_Lasqoray_printer.shtml|archive-date=17 October 2013}}</ref>
The nearest airport to Las Qoray is the [[Bender Qassim International Airport]] in [[Bosaso]]. {{Clear}}
==Demographics== Las Qoray has a population of around 2,000 inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web|author=unicef|date=September 2002|title=SANAAG REGION NUTRITION SURVEY REPORT|url=https://www.fsnau.org/downloads/Sanaag%20Survey%20-%20May%202002.pdf|accessdate=2021-07-11|archive-date=2021-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711080102/https://www.fsnau.org/downloads/Sanaag%20Survey%20-%20May%202002.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The broader Las Qoray area has a total population of 34,724 residents.<ref name="Rdatp">{{cite web|title=Regions, districts, and their populations: Somalia 2005 (draft)|url=https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/Somalia/UNDP-POP-RURAL-URBAN%202005.pdf|publisher=UNDP|access-date=21 September 2013}}</ref>
==Economy== Las Qoray has long been an exporter of livestock, fish, produce, and [[frankincense]]. On the other hand, they imported rice, wheat, sugar, clothing, etc.<ref name=sr2012/>
[[File:Laasqoray30.jpg|thumb|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.<ref name=acad>{{Cite web |author=Academy for Peace and Development |date=July 2002 |url=https://www.somali-jna.org/downloads/APD_Livestock_Economy_16July023.pdf |title=Regulating the Livestock Economy of Somaliland |accessdate=2021-05-04}}</ref>
The factory, which had been shut down due to the [[Somali civil war]], reopened in 2001,<ref name=acad/> but was closed shortly after. The facility was modernized and reopened in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Warshada Laas-Qoray oo dib u hawl gashay |newspaper=BBC Somali |date=2007-11-28 |url=https://www.bbc.com/somali/news/story/2007/11/071128_ganacsiga |accessdate=2021-05-03 }}</ref> At that time, there were 2,800 fishermen and factory workers.<ref name=sl201112>{{Cite web |author=REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND |date=December 2011 |url=https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/5b4310f34.pdf |title=National Development Plan (2012-2016) |accessdate=2021-05-04}}</ref> On August 12, Hodman Trading Company, a company in [[Dubai]], United Arab Emirates, acquired the entire plant of Las Qoray.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Shirkad Cusub oo gatatey Warshada kaluunka Ee Laas Qoray. |newspaper=LaasqorayNet |date=2007-08-13 |url=http://somalitalkradio.com/2007/aug/laasqoray.html |accessdate=2021-05-04 }}</ref> In 2012, it was reported that they were exporting to [[Yemen]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref name=ss201211>{{Cite news |title=Somaliland: Puntland Militias Chased out of Las Qoray |newspaper=Somaliland Sum |date=2012-11-14 |url=https://www.somalilandsun.com/somaliland-puntland-militias-chased-out-of-las-qoray/ |accessdate=2021-05-04 }}</ref> In 2019, the BBC reports that fakes are on the market.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Waa kee waddanka "qaatay" magacii warshadda kalluunka ee Laasqoray? |newspaper=BBC |date=2019-08-08 |url=https://www.bbc.com/somali/war-49281512 |accessdate=2021-05-03 }}</ref> Las Qoray's cannery will remain shut down as of April 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Warshaddii Kalluunka Laasqoray: Dayac, Baaba' & Burbur (sawirro) |newspaper=daljir |date=2021-04-18 |url=https://www.daljir.com/warshadii-kaluuka-ee-laasqoray-dayaca-iyo-burburka-ka-muuqda-sawirro/ |accessdate=2021-05-03 }}</ref>
<gallery> File:Laasqoray15.jpg|Processing fish.(2006) File:LaasqorayTuna.jpg|Making canned food.(2008) </gallery>
==Notable Resident== *[[Farah Mohamed Jama Awl]], author
==Notes== <references>
<ref name=sr2012>{{Cite web |author=SomaiaReport |date=2012-06-20 |url=https://piracyreport.com/index.php/post/3456/Part_One_What_is_Lasqoray |title=What is Lasqoray? |accessdate=2021-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205053726/https://piracyreport.com/index.php/post/3456/Part_One_What_is_Lasqoray|archive-date=2022-02-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name=bt20170417>{{Cite news |title=MAXAAD KA OGTAHAY TAARIIKHA GUUNKA AH EE DEGMADA LAASQORAY IYO MAGACII WAAYADII HORE LA ODHAN JIRAY XIGASHO QORE, C/CASIIS MAXAMUD |newspaper=berberatoday.com |date=2017-04-17 |url=https://berberatoday.com/2017/04/17/maxaad-ka-ogtahay-taariikha-guunka-ah-ee-degmada-laasqoray-iyo-magacii-waayadii-hore-la-odhan-jiray/ |accessdate=2022-02-05 }}</ref> <ref name=pr20120627>{{Cite news |title=Part Two: What is Lasqoray? |newspaper=piracyreport.com |date=2012-06-27 |url=https://www.piracyreport.com/index.php/post/3473/Part_Two_What_is_Lasqoray |accessdate=2022-02-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220726124803/https://piracyreport.com/index.php/post/3456/Part_One_What_is_Lasqoray |archive-date=2022-07-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name=euaa2023>{{Cite web |author=euaa |year=2023 |url=https://euaa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/publications/2023-02/2023_02_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_Situation_EN.pdf|title=Somalia: Security Situation |accessdate=2023-12-09}}</ref>
</references>
==References== {{commons category|Laasqoray}} *[http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-4569518&fid=5776&c=somalia Laasqoray, Somalia]
[[Category:Populated places in Sanaag]] [[Category:Cities in Somalia]] [[Category:Archaeological sites in Somalia]] [[Category:Populated coastal places in Somalia]]