# Dhahar

> Dhahar: eastern Sanaag district town claimed by Puntland and Somaliland, scene of July 2025 fighting linked to SSC-Khatumo.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/regions/dhahar/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Where it is

Dhahar is the capital of Dhahar district in eastern [Sanaag](/en/regions/sanaag/), at about 9.75°N, 48.82°E ([Wikipedia: Dhahar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhahar); [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3780880)). Roads link it east towards Hingalol and Sheerbi: in August 2022 the Puntland president laid the foundation stone for a road from Dhahar to Hingalol; the 45 km road to Sheerbi was then almost finished, while only 20 of the 70 km to Hingalol were built ([Horseed Media, 2022](https://horseedmedia.net/madaxweynaha-puntland-oo-dhagax-dhigay-wadada-dhahar-sheerbi-371922)). See also [Badhan](/en/regions/badhan/), the other main town of eastern Sanaag.

## Who runs it

The town is claimed by both [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) and [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/), and sources describe it differently. Reuters reported Dhahar as a Puntland town in 2021; SBC reported in 2019 that it was in practice under Somaliland; a 2014 study called it a district of Puntland ([Wikipedia: Dhahar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhahar)). Puntland names the area Haylan region and sends its governor there ([Wikipedia: Dhahar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhahar)). Wikipedia also records a Somaliland army base in the town, home to its 93rd division ([Wikipedia: Dhahar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhahar)).

## Timeline

- **November 2009:** Puntland and Somaliland forces clashed near Dhahar ([VOA](https://web.archive.org/web/20201130060118/https://www.voanews.com/archive/somaliland-troops-clash-puntland-forces)).
- **2016:** an incident between the two sides at Boodda-Cad, a settlement 30 km west of Dhahar ([BBC Somali, July 2016](https://www.bbc.com/somali/war/2016/07/160718_somaliland)).
- **January 2018:** Somalia's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Gamal Mohamed Hassan, visited Dhahar and Badhan with Puntland officials ([Wikipedia: Dhahar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhahar); [BBC Somali](https://www.bbc.com/somali/war-42557608)).
- **March 2021:** police fired into the air to break up protesters in Dhahar who backed President Farmaajo and opposed Puntland President Deni ([Reuters, March 2021](https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-somalia-politics-idUSKBN2BG2DH)).
- **May and October 2023:** visits by Puntland ministers and the Haylan governor ([Daljir](https://www.daljir.com/wafdi-wasiiro-ah-oo-tagay-dhahar/)).
- **September 2023:** 24 of Dhahar district's 33 councillors, including members of Puntland's ruling Kaah party, rejected Local Law No. 7 agreed by Puntland's parties ([Horseed Media, 2023](https://horseedmedia.net/xildhibaanada-degmada-dhahar-ee-maamulka-puntland-oo-meel-adag-ka-istaagey-heshiisyada-xisbiyada-382589)).

## July 2025 fighting

On 15 July 2025 heavy fighting broke out in Dhahar between Puntland forces, including the [Puntland Maritime Police Force](/en/institutions/puntland-security-forces/), and local militias aligned with SSC-Khatumo, after Puntland forces moved to remove new checkpoints. [Hiiraan Online](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/) reported four soldiers killed and ten wounded in hours of fighting ([Hiiraan Online, July 2025](http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/july/202220/four_soldiers_killed_in_deadly_clashes_between_puntland_forces_and_clan_militias_in_dhahar_district.aspx)); Wikipedia records dozens dead in total ([Wikipedia: Dhahar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhahar)).

The fighting came during a conference in Laascaanood where Warsangali and Dhulbahante delegates were discussing a new federal member state backed by the federal government. The same day Puntland's parliament expelled a former speaker, Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril, after an arrest warrant was issued ([Garowe Online](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/puntland/somalia-puntland-parliament-expels-former-speaker-as-arrest-warrant-is-issued)). Puntland's president held the federal government responsible for efforts to bring Sanaag into SSC-Khatumo, and Somalia's Ministry of Interior urged Puntland to withdraw its troops from Dhahar ([Hiiraan Online, July 2025](http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/july/202222/federal_government_urges_puntland_to_withdraw_troops_after_deadly_clashes_in_dhahar_district.aspx); [Garowe Online](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-federal-government-undermining-puntland-unity-minister-says-after-deadly-clashes)). See [North Eastern State](/en/states/north-eastern-state/).

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Dhahar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhahar)
- [Wikidata Q3780880](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3780880)
- [Hiiraan Online, clashes in Dhahar, July 2025](http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/july/202220/four_soldiers_killed_in_deadly_clashes_between_puntland_forces_and_clan_militias_in_dhahar_district.aspx)
- [Reuters, March 2021](https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-somalia-politics-idUSKBN2BG2DH)
- [FSNAU Sanaag survey, 2002](https://www.fsnau.org/downloads/Sanaag%20Survey%20-%20May%202002.pdf)

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