Region
Sanaag
Sanaag is a region on the northern coast with Erigavo (Ceerigaabo) as its capital and about 446,000 people. Control is split between Somaliland in the west, local forces in the east and others, and after a fourth poor rainy season 73% of people were short of food by early 2026.
Who lives there
About 445,736 people (IPC, January 2026). The districts are Erigavo (the capital), Ceel Afweyn and Laasqoray, and Badhan and Dhahar are also key towns (EUAA Sanaag, 2026). Many communities live here, and their loyalties differ between Somaliland, Puntland and North Eastern State. Occupational minorities face discrimination across the north (EUAA minorities).
Displaced: 10,133 people were newly displaced by conflict from April 2025 to February 2026. Most (8,968) stayed inside Sanaag, and 5,086 came from Dhahar. NRC recorded 154 evictions (EUAA Sanaag).
Work and money
Most families herd animals. Over 70% of livelihoods in the affected areas depend on rain-fed herding, and Sanaag faced a fourth poor rainy season in late 2025 (OCHA, Sep–Oct 2025). By January 2026, 73% of people were short of food or worse, and drought had hit schools, clinics and nutrition (EUAA Sanaag). Cash aid of $140 went to 720 households in Togdheer and Sanaag (OCHA, Aug 2025).
Who governs
Control is split, as of 31 March 2026 (EUAA Sanaag):
- Somaliland: the west, including Erigavo, Jidali and Ceel Afweyn.
- Local autonomous forces: Badhan, Dhahar, Elbuh, Hingalol and Laasqoray.
- Mixed: the south-east.
- Others: North Eastern State claims parts of the east, and Puntland keeps positions there.
- Al-Shabaab: present in the Almadow (Golis) mountains for over a decade.
There were 48 incidents and 54 deaths from April 2025 to March 2026, mostly local clashes.
What people face now
- May 2025: a peace conference in Ceel Afweyn brought together two communities after years of violence. It is one of the region's most important recent steps (EUAA Sanaag).
- July and September 2025: a clash in Ceelbuh killed a civilian, and a traditional elder was killed in a US air strike near Badhan.
- 26 February 2026: North Eastern State accused Somaliland forces of attacks on civilians in Laasqoray district.
Top needs
- Water and pasture for herders after four poor seasons.
- Food and nutrition, with 73% short of food or worse.
- Help for the 10,133 newly displaced, mainly from Dhahar.
- Schools and clinics kept open through the drought.
- The May 2025 peace held, and trust between communities kept.
Sources
- EUAA Sanaag, 2026 · euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA minorities · euaa.europa.eu
- OCHA, Sep–Oct 2025 · reliefweb.int
- OCHA, Aug 2025 · reliefweb.int
Gathered in our research record “Somalia regions”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.
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