Region
Sool (Las Anod)
Sool is a region in the north with Las Anod (Laascaanood) as its capital and about 571,000 people. After the 2023 conflict most of it is run by North Eastern State, which the federal government recognised in 2025, while Somaliland holds the west, and 72% of people were short of food in early 2026.
Who lives there
About 570,788 people, not counting Buhodle (IPC, February 2026). The districts are Las Anod (the capital), Taleex, Xudun and Caynabo (EUAA Sool, 2026). Occupational minorities face discrimination across the north (EUAA minorities).
Displaced: 419 people were newly displaced by conflict from April 2025 to February 2026, mostly inside Caynabo and Xudun. NRC recorded 1,922 evictions (EUAA Sool). Since the 2023 conflict, families have been split across the front line, and 210 people from Las Anod moved to Hargeisa between 2023 and 2025 (EUAA Woqooyi Galbeed).
Work and money
About 72% of people were short of food or worse in January 2026. Taleex, Godaalo, Xudun and Buhodle ran short of water in September 2025 (EUAA Sool). Across Somalia, water barrels doubled or tripled in price, and fuel rose to $1.50 a litre by April 2026 (OCHA, Apr 2026).
Who governs
Control is split, as of 31 March 2026 (EUAA Sool):
- North Eastern State: Las Anod, Taleex, Xudun, Buhodle and Gumays. It grew out of the SSC-Khaatumo administration formed in 2023. It became a federal member state in July 2025, and the federal government endorsed it on 2 August 2025 after a conference in Las Anod.
- Somaliland: Caynabo, Oog and Qorilugud.
- Contested: areas west of Xudun, Gumays and Buhodle, and Boocame, where North Eastern State and Puntland-aligned forces have clashed.
There were 43 security incidents and 26 deaths from April 2025 to March 2026. Aid access is heavily limited in northern Xudun and Taleex.
What people face now
- July and August 2025: North Eastern State was formed and endorsed by Mogadishu.
- September 2025: water shortages in Taleex, Godaalo, Xudun and Buhodle.
- 31 October 2025: fighting in Boocame between Puntland and North Eastern State forces (EUAA Sool).
- January to April 2026: 72% short of food or worse, with drought continuing (OCHA).
Top needs
- Water in Taleex, Xudun, Godaalo and Buhodle.
- Food for the 72% who are short.
- Help for the 1,922 evicted and the people displaced by conflict.
- Contact and trust restored across the front line, for families split since 2023.
- Records and services rebuilt after the 2023 war.
Sources
- EUAA Sool, 2026 · euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA minorities · euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA Woqooyi Galbeed · euaa.europa.eu
- OCHA, Apr 2026 · reliefweb.int
Gathered in our research record “Somalia regions”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.
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- Mogadishu (Banadir)Mogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- AwdalAwdal 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.
- Woqooyi Galbeed (Hargeisa, Berbera)Woqooyi Galbeed is the north-western region that holds Hargeisa (Hargeysa) and the port of Berbera, with about 1 to 1.45 million people.
- Togdheer (Burao)Togdheer is a region of Somalia. About 894,874 people including Buhodle (IPC, Jan 2026).
- SanaagSanaag is a region on the northern coast with Erigavo (Ceerigaabo) as its capital and about 446,000 people.
- Bari (Bosaso)Bari is Puntland's north-east region, with the port city of Bosaso (Boosaaso) as its capital and about 1.28 million people.