Burao

Burao is the capital of the Togdheer region and the second-largest city in Somaliland, a self-declared republic in northern Somalia. Set on a high, dry plain, it is one of the Horn of Africa's most important livestock trading centres, with camel, sheep and goat markets shaping both the economy and the rhythm of daily life.

Historically, Burao grew as a British Somaliland administrative post and livestock assembly point, and it became the capital of the expanded Togdheer region after independence in 1960. The city suffered heavy damage during the 1988 conflict, but it also holds a central place in modern Somali history: in 1991, a conference in Burao declared Somaliland's independence.

The Burao Livestock Market is the city's defining landmark and among the largest of its kind in the Horn of Africa. Nearby, the central market, the New Bridge over the seasonal Togdheer riverbed, and a number of mosques and colonial-era buildings give visitors a sense of the city's commercial and cultural character.

Burao's economy is built on livestock exports, trade, remittances and money-transfer services, with strong commercial links to Berbera's port and the wider Gulf region. This makes the city relevant for business travellers working in agriculture, logistics and regional trade, as well as for visitors interested in Somali pastoral culture.

For leisure and business travellers alike, Burao offers an authentic northern Somali experience: a working trading town, a proud history and a direct window into the livestock economy that defines much of the region.