Cot Mesjid – village settlement in Samatiga District, Kabupaten Aceh Barat
Cot Mesjid is a small settlement (desa/gampong) in Aceh Province, Indonesia, on the western coast of Sumatra. Administratively, it belongs to Samatiga Kecamatan, which forms part of Kabupaten Aceh Barat (West Aceh Regency). Based on the settlement's coordinates (4.2133715° N, 96.087779° E), it is located on the western coastal region of Sumatra island, in an area close to the Indian Ocean. Currently, no independent, settlement-level source material is available for Cot Mesjid; therefore, the information presented below relies primarily on verified data from the regency and provincial level, with clear indication that it refers to the broader surrounding area.
General overview
The name Cot Mesjid in both Indonesian and Acehnese refers to a hillock-like area near a mosque ("cot" means hill, "mesjid" means mosque), which reflects a characteristic naming tradition of rural Acehnese villages. The settlement belongs to Samatiga Kecamatan, which is one of the districts in Kabupaten Aceh Barat's administrative structure. The regency's capital is the city of Meulaboh, toward which various settlements in the region gravitate in administrative, commercial, and transportation terms. According to verified regency-level data, Kabupaten Aceh Barat's territory underwent several administrative reorganizations in recent decades: before the divisions, the regency covered an area of 10,097.04 km², and following territorial reforms, the current Aceh Barat was reduced to 2,927.95 km². In mid-2024, the regency's population was 207,690 people. Cot Mesjid itself is most likely a smaller, agriculturally oriented rural community, with rice fields, coconut palm plantations, and possibly fishing activities typical of the region, though no verified sources currently exist for these specific details.
Real estate and investment
Independent, field-based analysis of Cot Mesjid's real estate market is not available. In the broader context of Kabupaten Aceh Barat, it can be noted that the regency is one of the less urbanized western coastal areas of Aceh Province, where property transactions are largely local in nature, and investment activity is lower than in the more dynamically developing interior or eastern parts of the province. According to the general framework of Indonesian land ownership regulations, foreign nationals cannot acquire direct land ownership in Indonesia (Hak Milik); instead, Hak Pakai (usage rights) or long-term rental arrangements are available to them, with their duration and conditions regulated by law. Additionally, Aceh Province is subject to sharia (Islamic law) based local regulations, which in certain economic and legal matters may apply local norms that differ from those in other regions of Indonesia. For these reasons, it is advisable to involve a local legal expert before undertaking any real estate transaction in Aceh.
Safety and security
No settlement-level statistical data is available regarding public safety in Cot Mesjid; therefore, the following statements represent general observations about the broader region. Aceh Province was the scene of armed conflict for many decades, but following the Helsinki peace agreement signed in 2005 between the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) movement and the Indonesian government, the province stabilized considerably. Since then, Aceh is generally considered a peaceful province within Indonesia, although in rural areas—such as Cot Mesjid likely is—public safety is fundamentally determined by local community norms and the province's Islamic law-based social order. Travelers and those planning to stay in the area are advised to observe local customs and Acehnese sharia provisions, which include behavioral codes affecting daily life.
Tourist attractions
No named tourist attractions are listed in available sources for Cot Mesjid village itself. However, based on regency-level data, Kabupaten Aceh Barat is known as the birthplace of Teuku Umar, the national hero and a defining figure in Acehnese resistance during the Dutch colonial period. His name is borne by the Universitas Teuku Umar state higher education institution operating in the city of Meulaboh and by the Komando Resor Militer 012/Teuku Umar military unit. Meulaboh, as a city located on the Indian Ocean coast, also serves as a reference point for understanding the natural characteristics of the western Acehnese coastal region, including coastal areas. It is important to note that Meulaboh and its surroundings were among the areas heavily affected by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which fundamentally transformed the area's infrastructure and local community structures. No verifiable data is currently available regarding the relative distances between Cot Mesjid and other settlements in Samatiga District, or regarding specific visiting possibilities.
Summary
Cot Mesjid is a small, rural village settlement in Aceh Province, Indonesia, located in Samatiga District of Kabupaten Aceh Barat, on the western coastal region of Sumatra. Since no independent, detailed source material is available for the village, the information presented here relies primarily on verified data from the regency and provincial level. The regency's total population was close to 207,700 people in mid-2024, and the area is also connected to the national hero Teuku Umar. When planning real estate purchases or extended stays, familiarity with Indonesian and Acehnese local legal frameworks is essential.
