Hargeisa

Hargeisa ( har-GAY-sə; Somali: Hargeysa; Arabic: هرجيسا, romanized: Hargēsā) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland, a breakaway state of Somalia, where it is the second-largest city. It is still considered internationally to be part of Somalia. It is also the regional capital of the Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland. Hargeisa was founded as a watering and trading stop between the coast and the interior by the Isaaq. Initially it served as a watering well for the vast livestock of the Isaaq clan that inhabited that specific region and later were joined by other Isaaq clans that currently inhabit Hargeisa. In 1960, the Somaliland Protectorate gained independence from the United Kingdom and as scheduled united days later with the Trust Territory of Somaliland (former Italian Somaliland) to form the Somali Republic on 1 July. Up to 90% of the city was destroyed during the Isaaq genocide, a state-sponsored campaign of violence during the Somaliland War of Independence. Hargeisa is situated in a valley in the Galgodon (Ogo) highlands, and sits at an elevation of 1,334 m (4,377 ft). Home to rock art from the Neolithic period, the city is also a commercial hub for precious stone-cutting, construction, retail services and trading, among other activities.