Overlapping claims by Somaliland and Puntland: The case of Sool and Sanaag

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the territorial dispute between the self-declared state of Somaliland and the autonomous Puntland State of Somalia over the Sool and Sanaag regions. It analyzes the intersection of colonial legacies, clan dynamics, and national political tensions that drive conflict and hinder resolution.

• The territorial dispute over Sool and Sanaag is driven by divergent views on legitimacy: Somaliland bases its claims on colonial borders inherited from the United Kingdom, while Puntland bases its administration on clan ties, specifically serving the Darod/Harti confederation.
• Violence in the Sool region escalated in 2018, specifically around the town of Tukaraq, where Somaliland forces took control in January and May 2018. Casualties from these clashes are estimated between 200 and 300 people, and the UN reported 2,700 households were displaced as of July 2018.
• Sanaag has historically been more stable than Sool due to its geography, a merchant trading culture among the Warsengeli clan, and a lack of major connecting roads. However, 2019 saw increased militarization and violence, including clashes around Badhan in May 2019 that killed seven people.
• Local communities have attempted to establish alternative administrations to avoid domination by either Somaliland or Puntland, including the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) administration in 2009, the Khatumo administration in 2011, and the Maakhir state in 2007, though these projects largely failed.
• The dispute is multi-layered, involving local clan contradictions, regional competition between Somaliland and Puntland, and national-level tensions involving the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in Mogadishu, particularly regarding Somaliland's unrecognized independence.
• Despite political conflict, strong social and economic ties persist. Traffic continues along the Las Anod to Garowe route, and Somaliland residents often travel to Garowe to obtain Somali passports due to the limited recognition of Somaliland passports.
• There is a risk that violent extremist organizations (VEOs), such as al-Shabaab and the Islamic State, may exploit the administrative gaps and strained relations between Somaliland and Puntland to infiltrate the region.
• Somaliland has employed a 'hearts and minds' strategy in the eastern regions, reserving 2% of its annual budget for development projects, such as Nugaal University and a general hospital in Las Anod, to encourage inclusion.
• International mediation by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations (UNSOM) led to an informal ceasefire and a four-point plan, which facilitated the exchange of 17 detainees in June 2019.

APA

Mahmood, O. S. (2019). Overlapping claims by Somaliland and Puntland: The case of Sool and Sanaag. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ear27.pdf

Chicago

Mahmood, Omar S. Overlapping claims by Somaliland and Puntland: The case of Sool and Sanaag. Institute for Security Studies, 2019. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ear27.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mahmood |first1=Omar S |title=Overlapping claims by Somaliland and Puntland: The case of Sool and Sanaag |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=November 2019 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ear27.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mahmood2019overlapping, author = {Mahmood, Omar S}, title = {{Overlapping claims by Somaliland and Puntland: The case of Sool and Sanaag}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2019}, month = nov, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ear27.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }