It was an honor and a privilege to accompany President H.E Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland State of Somalia on a remarkable Journey Through Baargaal and Hafun — Localities where Mountains, Ocean and Ancient Civilizations Congregate.
At the farthest edge, towards the eastern most point of Africa lies a remarkable land. In here, history, nature and the ocean come together in a way that is difficult, if not rare, to find elsewhere on the planet. Baargaal and Hafun, in the Ras Caseyr region of Bari, Puntland, Somalia,are dual places where the ancient past seems to still stay alive, while the landscape itself feels virgin—almost untouched by time.
For centuries, this corner of the Horn of Africa occupied an important position along the ancient maritime trade routes connecting Africa, Arabia, on the Indian Ocean and the wider world. Here lies, a strategic location made into a site of commercial exchange and, at different periods, an area of interest to competing local, regional and global powers.
The history of Ras Caseyr is also deeply connected to the great maritime routes on the Indian Ocean. During the last century’s European imperial ambition and competition, the region became front and center of the strategic calculations by powers such as Britain and Italy, this was particularly due to its proximity to the Gulf of Aden as well as the major sea routes leading toward the Red Sea and beyond. The legacy of the Ottoman Empire’s presence and influence in this littoral scene adds another layer to its already rich historical story.
The story of Baargaal and Hafun is not only about empires and geopolitics. It is also a chronicle of trade, livelihoods and natural wealth. The region has long, since antiquity, been associated with valuable natural products, including frankincense, dates, as well as salt among other mineral resources. Its coastal waters have supported generations of fishing communities and are part of one of the world’s most productive marine environments.
But what truly distinguishes Ras Caseyr is the unique landscape itself. Here, mountains rise dramatically from the coastline, meeting the vast waters of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. Islands, rocky cliffs, beaches, valleys and rugged mountain terrain create a landscape of extraordinary contrasts. The warm climate, breathtaking coastline and welcoming people give the region a character that is both wild and deeply human.
For any adventurous traveller, Ras Caseyr accords one extremely extraordinary possibilities. Its scraggy mountains and rugged terrain provide natural settings for hiking, canyoning and rock climbing, while its coastline and vast open waters offer opportunities for kitesurfing, surfing, kayaking and scuba diving. For those who simply seek to escape the monotonous noise of modern life, its beaches and remote landscapes provide something equally valuable: silence, space and a sense of boundless freedom.
Standing on the coast of Baargaal or Hafun, one can easily feel the scale of the place. The horizon stretches endlessly across the Indian Ocean. The mountains stand behind you, the sea before you, and the ancient routes of sailors and traders seem to exist somewhere between the two. It is this feeling that makes Ras Caseyr more than a destination. It is an experience of a lifetime.
Any journey to this part of the world is a journey through layers of history—from ancient commerce and maritime civilizations to the era of imperial competition and the modern world. It is also a journey into a landscape that retains much of its natural character, offering visitors the rare feeling of discovering a rare place rather than simply visiting it.
Perhaps the greatest attraction of Baargaal, Hafun and the wider Ras Caseyr region is precisely this combination: history without losing its soul, nature without losing its wildness, and people whose hospitality makes the journey memorable. At the easternmost reaches of Africa, where the mountains meet the sea and the Indian Ocean opens toward the wider world, Ras Caseyr stands as one of the Horn of Africa’s most extraordinary yet still under-discovered destinations.
This is a land beyond the horizon—a place where the mountains remember history, the ocean carries stories, and the beauty of the earth remains remarkably close to the way it was first created.
Bari Region and Ras Caseyr: a sight to behold and discover, a history to remember, and a horizon to experience.
Abdifatah Abdinur is the State Minister of the Presidency at Puntland State of Somalia. He can be found on mail at abdifatah.abdinur@gmail.com