Region
Awdal
Awdal is the far north-west region, on the borders with Djibouti and Ethiopia, with Borama (Boorama) as its capital and about 300,000 to 636,000 people. It is run by Somaliland and is largely free of fighting, but the 2025 drought killed many animals and many residents say they feel left out of power.
Who lives there
Estimates for September 2024 range from about 303,218 people (IOM, likely an undercount) to 636,108 (IPC). The region has four districts: Borama (the capital), Baki, Lughaye and Zeylac. It borders Djibouti, Ethiopia and the Gulf of Aden (EUAA Awdal, May 2025).
Occupational minorities, such as the Gabooye, face discrimination and weak protection across Somaliland (EUAA minorities guidance, Oct 2025). Their numbers in Awdal are not known. Almost no one has been displaced by conflict: 8 people in 2023.
Work and money
Herding is the base of the economy. In July 2025 an assessment found wide shortages of water and grazing and "significant livestock losses", worst in Lughaye and Zeylac (OCHA, Aug 2025). Across Somalia, a 200-litre water barrel doubled or tripled in price in many districts, and fuel rose from $0.60 to $1.50 a litre by April 2026 (OCHA, Apr 2026).
Who governs
The Somaliland administration runs the whole region. Somaliland declared independence in 1991. The UN and the African Union treat it as part of Somalia. Israel recognised it on 26 December 2025, and Somalia and the AU rejected that (Al-Monitor, Dec 2025).
Al-Shabaab holds no land here. There were six security incidents and one death from April 2023 to March 2025. Community leaders in Awdal have long said the region is left out of power. There were violent protests in Borama in May 2023, and in September 2023 a meeting of traditional leaders abroad called for Awdal to leave Somaliland (EUAA). Somaliland set up a drought committee for Awdal in July 2025 (OCHA).
What people face now
- July 2025: a drought emergency was declared. Food reached 5,500 households in Awdal and Woqooyi Galbeed on 20 July.
- August 2025: more than 38 health and nutrition centres reported serious gaps after funding cuts (OCHA).
- October 2025: dry weather was forecast to last into November.
Top needs
- Water for people and animals in Lughaye and Zeylac.
- Health and nutrition care as clinics lose funding.
- Income for herders who lost animals.
- Paid work for young people.
- A voice for people who feel left out.
What we don't know yet
Local prices and wages, and the number of minority families. If you know, use "Fix this page".
Sources
- EUAA Awdal, May 2025 · euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA minorities guidance, Oct 2025 · euaa.europa.eu
- OCHA, Aug 2025 · reliefweb.int
- OCHA, Apr 2026 · reliefweb.int
- Al-Monitor, Dec 2025 · al-monitor.com
- OCHA · reliefweb.int
Gathered in our research record “Somalia regions”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.
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