Embracing Zeila's Revival: The Reawakening of the Awdal Gem

[Deeq A.]

Zeila stands as a testament to the ebbs and flows of history. Located at merely 25 KM from the Djibouti border, this coastal town once pulsed with life, bustling with the comings and goings of traders and explorers. Its strategic position on the ancient maritime trade routes made it a magnet for merchants, scholars, and adventurers from distant lands. Zeila was once the seat of the ancient IFAT civilization and later became a crucial city in its successor, the Adal Empire. Under the reign of Imam Ahmed Gurey, the Adal Empire dominated much of the northern Somali, Djibouti, and Afar regions of Eritrea and extended its influence into the Ethiopian highlands.

Source: Hiiraan Online