# Maakhir University, Badhan (now Somali National University, Badhan campus)

> Maakhir University in Badhan, Sanaag: founded 2010 by the diaspora, Kuwaiti funding, first graduates 2014, and its move into the Somali National University in 2019.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/maakhir-university/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## In short

[Maakhir](/en/history/warsangali-sultanate/) University, in Somali *Jaamacadda Maakhir*, is a university in [Badhan](/en/regions/badhan/), in eastern Sanaag ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maakhir_University)). It was created in 2010 by people from the region living abroad, with support from the [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/) government (same source). In September 2019 it became a branch of the Somali National University (*Jaamacadda Ummadda Soomaaliyeed*) (same source).

## Why it was founded

Its stated aim was affordable higher education for people in the region and elsewhere in the country ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maakhir_University)). The diaspora from Sanaag has been its main sponsor. Its members bought equipment, vehicles and office supplies abroad and sent them to Badhan, and helped pay for a new campus (same source).

## Timeline

From Wikipedia's account ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maakhir_University)):

- **April 2010:** the university opened. The first year ended with a ceremony in November.
- **December 2010:** [Kuwait](/en/diaspora/kuwait/) committed $10 million to build Garoowe International Airport and Maakhir University.
- **April 2014:** Kuwait and Puntland signed the building agreement in Dubai. The money came from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, and Puntland's representative to Kuwait, Faisal Hawar, signed for Puntland.
- **December 2014:** first graduation ceremony.
- **September 2018:** a new seven-storey building was finished. Puntland President [Abdiweli Gaas](/en/people/abdiweli-gaas/) visited.
- **September 2019:** it became the Somali National University's branch in Puntland.

## Today

The Somali National University lists Badhan in Sanaag as one of its five campuses, with [Shabelle](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/), Gaheyr and KM4 in Mogadishu and [Caabudwaaq](/en/regions/caabudwaaq/) in [Galgaduud](/en/regions/galgaduud/) ([SNU, history](https://snu.edu.so/about/history/)). For the national university's full story, see [Somali universities one by one](/en/institutions/main-universities/).

## Iqra Institute for Higher Education, Badhan

Badhan also has the Iqra Institute for Higher Education, set up in 2008 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iqra_Institute_for_Higher_Education)). It was founded to give poor young people in Sanaag vocational training and short courses in management and languages, so they could earn a living (same source). Its founders pointed to the lack of higher education in the region, which pushed young people to move elsewhere to study (same source). It teaches on its main campus in Badhan and belongs to the Union of Somali Institutes (same source).

## Read more

- [Sanaag region](/en/regions/sanaag/)
- [Universities in Somalia](/en/society/universities-in-somalia/)

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