Senafe

The original name for Saanafè was Hakir Saho word. Local tradition states that the name was changed by a man named Abdullah from Sana'a in Yemen; he settled in the Awdie district of Hakir, and upon marrying a local woman he was quoted as saying "Sana-fen" which means in Arabic "where is Sana'a" he was relating to his hometown; thus the town was named Sanafe; his descendants form a tribe and are also known as Saanafè.

An early record of Sanafe is on the Egyptus Novello map, published in 1454. This map shows Sanafe at the Southern part of Eritrea.

Due to war (1998-2000) between Eritrea and Ethiopia, Senafe's economy was damaged badly. the highest mountain (Soira) located in this town. Other high mountains that surrounded Senafe are:

Metera, Arab-tarika and emba derho.

• 
  View of the plateau at Senafe
• 
  The Abessinian Expedition : The naval Rocket brigade firing rockets at Senafe (1868).

During Italian rule, the town grew notably: The modern town suffered extensive destruction during the Eritrean War of Independence and the Eritrean-Ethiopian War, although people are gradually returning from its surrounding refugee camps.

The prevailing climate in Senafe is known as a local steppe climate.