The Heaven of the Earth: A Journey beyond the horizon into the spirit of Ras Caseyr, where earth meets the Indian Ocean

State Minister of the Presidency, Puntland State of Somalia

It was an honor and a privilege to accompany H.E. President Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland State of Somalia on a remarkable Journey Through Baargaal and Hafun — Where Mountains, Ocean and Ancient Civilizations Meet

At the far eastern edge of Africa lies a remarkable land where history, nature and the ocean come together in a way that is difficult to find anywhere else in the world. Baargaal and Hafun, in the Ras Caseyr region of Bari, Puntland, Somalia, are places where the past seems to remain alive, while the landscape itself feels almost untouched by time.

The history of Ras Caseyr is deeply connected to the great maritime routes of the Indian Ocean. During the era of European imperial competition, the wider region became part of the strategic calculations of powers such as Britain and Italy, particularly because of its proximity to the Gulf of Aden and the major sea routes leading toward the Red Sea and beyond. The legacy of the Ottoman Empire’s presence and influence in the wider region adds another layer to its rich historical story.