Berbera probably has seen better days but still functions as one of the most important ports for the landlocked Ethiopia. Other than that, the fishing harbour is a fantastic spot to take photographs, there is a (littered and empty) beach and suffocating humidity.
There are plenty of trucks going from Berbera towards Sheekh and Burao, and many of them actually have a proper back seat for passengers (you can also duck there to avoid the checkpoint police attention), but they do charge around $3 for the trip. Instead of boiling on the road you can come up to any convenience store in Berbera and ask if they have a truck going to Sheekh anytime soon. They might even serve you tea while you wait.