What is "hargeisa"

Hargeisa (, is the second largest city in Somalia after Mogadishu, it is the most populous city in the state of Somaliland, a self-declared state that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia, situated in the Woqooyi Galbeed region in Northwestern Somalia.

During the Middle Ages, Hargeisa was part of the Adal Sultanate's domain. The city later succeeded Berbera as the capital of the British Somaliland protectorate in 1941. In 1960, the protectorate gained independence and united as scheduled days later with the Trust Territory of Somaliland (the former Italian Somaliland) to form the Somali Republic (Somalia) on July 1.

Hargeisa is situated in a valley in the Galgodon (Ogo) highlands, and sits at an elevation of . Home to rock art from the Neolithic period, the city is also a commercial hub for precious stone-cutting, construction, retail services and importing/exporting, among other activities.