Historic
Dervish fort
A stone fort from the Dervish era.
Eyl – history, culture and places to visit | Warar
Cities of Somalia Nugaal · Puntland
Eyl
Illig · EilA historic coastal town where the Nugaal valley meets the Indian Ocean: a Dervish fort, dramatic cliffs and fishing boats.
AdministrationPuntland
RegionNugaal
Population8,155Estimate: urban population of the whole district (UNFPA PESS 2014), 2014
Location7.967°, 49.850°
Places to visit3
Overview
Eyl is a coastal town in the Nugaal region, where the seasonal Nugaal river reaches the Indian Ocean. Its setting combines a river mouth, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches.
It is one of the most historic towns on Puntland's coast, known for its Dervish fort and its fishing.
What makes it unique
- 01Where the Nugaal valley meets the sea
- 02A Dervish fort that still stands
- 03A long fishing tradition (tuna and lobster)
Places to visit
Nature
Nugaal river mouth
Where the river meets the ocean, framed by cliffs.
Beach
Eyl beach
A sandy shore lined with fishing boats.
History
In the early 20th century Eyl (Illig) was an important base for the Dervishes of Sayyid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan. In April 1904 a British naval force drove out the Dervish garrison, though the area later served the Dervishes again. The Dervish fort still stands in the town.
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami damaged Eyl and other towns along Puntland's coast.
Culture
Local life is tied to the sea and to livestock. The Dervish fort is the town's emblem and an important site in the history of Somali resistance.
Economy
Before the civil war Eyl was one of Somalia's main fishing centres, especially for tuna and lobster. Fishing and livestock remain the mainstays of the economy.