Zeila

Zeila, also spelled Zeyla or Zaila, is a port city in the northwestern part of Somaliland, situated on the Gulf of Aden near the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. It is part of the Awdal region and functions as a historic trading hub on the Horn of Africa. The city has long served as a gateway between the Somali interior and maritime routes linking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Historically, Zeila dates to the early medieval period and grew as a center for commerce, religion, and cross-cultural exchange. It played a significant role in the spread of Islam in the region and became a base for various Somali polities, including the Adal sultanate, at different times. The Zeila Mosque, dating from the 7th or 8th century, is among the oldest mosques in Africa and reflects the city’s long religious and cultural heritage. Throughout the medieval era, Zeila’s port supported regional trade and interacted with Ethiopian, Arabian, and Swahili networks, among others.

In the modern era, Zeila remains a regional town with a modest port and fishing-based economy. The population is predominantly Somali, and the town bears the imprint of Arab, Somali, and African influences in its architecture and culture. Politically, Zeila is administered by Somaliland authorities as part of the Awdal region, a self-declared state that is internationally unrecognized. The city is connected by road to surrounding towns and remains a site of historical interest, with ruins and monuments that reflect its long maritime and commercial significance.