[4] Additionally, a number of small- to medium-sized cairns are especially concentrated on the plain that lies between the coast adjacent to El Ayo and an inland ridge around 2 km in length.

[5] Eastern Somaliland in general is home to numerous such archaeological sites, with similar edifices found at Haylan, Qa’ableh, Qombo'ul and Maydh.

[11] According to a July 2017 report, there is a constant flow of illegal migrants from Somalia's northern coast to Yemen on the other side of the river, but El Ayo is considered unpopular due to the presence of an airport and Puntland Maritime Police Force base along the road.

[16] In March 2021, the Puntland Maritime Police Force conducted a crackdown along the northern coast of Somalia, including El Ayo, seizing 10 boats and arresting their crews for illegal fishing by Yemenis.

[17] In August 2021, Puntland security forces attacked Al-Shabaab, which was based in the nearby mountainous region of El Ayo and other areas, and destroyed their strongholds.