| Official Name: | Bargal |
| Other Name: | بارجال |
| Native Name: | Baargaal |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Somalia |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Somalia. |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Bari |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Bargal |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population Total: | 153200 |
| Timezone: | EAT |
| Utc Offset: | +3 |
| Coordinates: | 11.2833°N 51.0833°W |
Bargal (Somali: Baargaal, Arabic: بارجال) is a town in the northeastern Bari region of Puntland, Somalia.
Bargal is situated in the mountainous Bari province of the autonomous Puntland state. It serves as the center of the Bargal District.[1]
A coastal town, Bargal faces the Guardafui Channel in the Indian Ocean. It lies 26 nautical miles (30 miles) north of Gumbah, 11 nautical miles (13 miles) north of Ras Binnah, 30 nautical miles (35 miles) south of Tohen, and 35 nautical miles (40 miles) south of Cape Guardafui and the entrance to the Gulf of Aden.
The book Migiurtinia Ed Il Territorio Del Nugál says the following: "Bargaal is the habitual residence of Boqor Osman Mahmud. The village is mainly inhabited by Majeerteen 800 Adan Abdirahman and 150 Osman Mahmud. There are four forts, the Kings house, 120 other brick buildings and about 200 huts. Drinking water, slightly brackish, is available on site. The village is divided into two parts: old Bargal and Eirod; the Sultan lives in the latter.
(Footnote) This monograph was written in early 1925, that is, before the military occupation of the Sultanate took place. Bargal no longer exists: it was bombed and razed to the ground on the 28 and 29 of October, 1925."[2]
In June 2007, it was the location of the Battle of Bargal.
In 2012, the Puntland Highway Authority (PHA) announced a project to connect Bargal and other cities in Puntland to the main regional highway.[3] The 750 km thoroughfare links major cities in the northern part of Somalia, such as Bosaso, Galkayo and Garowe, with towns in the south.[4]
The Majeerteen Sultanate was established possible around 1600s by Somalis from the Majeerteen Darod clan.[5] It reached prominence during the 19th century, under the reign of the resourceful Boqor (King) Osman Mahamuud.[6]
In the mid-17th to early 20th centuries city was among the area ruled by Majeerteen Sultanate Migiurtinia. Later forming a part of Italian Somaliland.[7] [5] [8] Bargal was seasonal headquarters of the Majeerteen Sultanate.Bargal likewise had a number of castles and forts in various areas within its realm, including a fortress at Alula.[7]
As of 2016, Bargal District had a population of around 153,200 inhabitants.[9]
Bargal has a number of academic institutions. According to the Puntland Ministry of Education, there are three primary schools, one secondary school and institute in the Bargal District. These include Wadikhayr, Taageer, Qorraxad, Abdehan and Bargaal Primary.[10]