This is a list of wars involving the Republic of Somaliland and its predecessors.
Ifat invasion of Shewa Sultanate (1285–1286) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result Ifat invasion of Shewa Sultanate(1285-1286) Ifat Sultanate Victory
Ifat Sultanate (1316–1332) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultConquests of the Emperor Amda Seyon I(1316–1332) Ifat Sultanate Defeat
Ifat-Abyssinian War (1376–1403) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result Ifat-Abyssinian War(1376–1403) Ifat Sultanate Defeat
Campaigns of Jamal ad-Din (1424-1429) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultCampaigns of Jamal ad-Din Ifat SultanateVictory Weaking of the Ethiopian Empire Adalite conquest of Eastern Ethiopia Ethiopians Abandon Bali
Adal Sultanate (1415–1577) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result Ethiopian–Adal War(1529-1543) Adal Sultanate Portuguese Empire Defeat
Sultanate of Adal (1550–1577) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result Nech Sar(1559) Adal Sultanate Ethiopian Empire Victory Adal succeeds in regaining control of the southern part of the Ethiopian Empire
Somali Portoguese Conflicts
ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultSomali–Portuguese conflicts Adal Sultanate Portuguese EmpireVictory
Ottoman-Ethiopian War (1557–1589) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultOttoman–Ethiopian War (1557–1589) Ottoman Egypt Medri Bahri Adal SultanatePeace treaty Ethiopian victory in the highlands Ottoman victory in the coastline Decline and dissolution of the Adal Sultanate Establishment of Habesh Eyalet in Hergigo and Massawa The establishment of Ottoman Zeila
Isaaq Sultanate (1750–1884) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultBattle of Lafaruug (1749)Absame tribesOgaden tribes Victory Establishment of the Isaaq Sultanate Isaaq expansion into southern Saaxil and parts of Maroodi Jeex
Battle of berbera (1827) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultBattle of Berbera(1827) Habr Awal Defeat
Blocade of berbera (1855–1856) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultBlocade of berberaBritish empireResolved by treaty the dangers and the costs put off new British expeditions in the region until the 1880s
Egyptian occupation of the isaaq Sultanate (1873-1884) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultEgyptian occupation Ottoman ZeilaEmirate of Harar Sultanate of AussaOromoVictory
Dervish State (1899–1920) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result Somaliland Campaign(1900–1920)Supported by: Defeat
Isaaq Tribe of Somaliland ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultBurao tax revolt(1922) Isaaq Sultanate Habr Yunis United Kingdom British Somaliland Victory Captain Allan Gibb killed Protectorate Tax Policy abandoned Burao destroyed after Royal Air Force firebombing
Italian conquest of British Somaliland (1884–1960) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultItalian conquest of British Somaliland(1940) Defeat Annexed to Italian East Africa
Operation Appearance (1941) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultOperation Appearance(1941) British India
Victory Re-establishment of British Somaliland
East African campaign (WWII) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultEast African campaign(1940-1941) Ethiopian Arbegnoch Belgium
Equatorial Africa Victory Dissolution of Italian East Africa (AOI) Eritrea, Somaliland and Ethiopia under British military administration
Somali Republic (1960–1969) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultShifta War(1963–1967)Northern Frontier Districts Liberation Movement Hawiye group Darod group Supported by: Somalia Kenya Colony (until Dec. 1963) Kenya (from Dec. 1963)Supported by:Ceasefire
1964 Ethiopian-Somali Border War ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultFirst Ogaden War(1964) SomaliaSupported by: Egypt EthiopiaSupported by: United StatesStalemate Armistice Ethiopian incursions failed Status quo ante bellum Demilitarized zone created July 1964 OAU Cairo Declaration
Somali Democratic Republic (1969–1991) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultSecond Ogaden War(1977-1978) Defeat Somalia breaks all ties with the Soviet Bloc and the Second World (except China and Romania). Beginning of the Somali Rebellion
Somali National Movement (1981-1991) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result Somaliland War of Independence(1981–1991) SNMSupported by: Ethiopia (1981-1986) Somalia Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party Supported by: (1981-1988) Libya (1988-1991)Metz, Country Studies, 1993, 213-214 (1984-1991) Victory End of the Isaaq Genocide. End of WSLF oppression Grand Conference of the Northern Clans held in Burao ends major combat operations Collapse of the Somali Democratic Republic Creation of the Republic of Somaliland on 18 May 1991. Beginning of the 1991 Zeila incursion
Republic of Somaliland (1991-Present) ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultPuntland–Somaliland dispute(1998–present) Ongoing Khatumo forces partially seize the Sool and region from Somaliland and reintegrate it into the Federal Government of Somalia Las Anod conflict between Somaliland and SSC-Khatumo begins in 2023Somali Civil War (2009–present) Somaliland Armed Forces SSB Alleged support: Somali Armed Forces
Supported by:
Non-combat support:
EUTM Somalia
UNPOS (1995–2013) UNTMIS (2025–present) UNSOA (2009–2016) UNSOS (2016–present) Council for Somalia's Future
Al-Qaeda and allies Al-Shabaab AQAP AQIM
Hizbul Islam (until 2010; 2012–2013) Alleged state allies: Multiple sources:
Multiple sources:
Quds ForceMultiple sources:
Multiple sources:
Alleged non-state allies: HouthisMultiple sources:
UN sources:
Somali pirates
(since 2015) Somalia Wilayah Allies IS-YP Somali pirates Ongoing Merger and split between/of Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab forces Kenyan military intervention in October 2011 Al-Shabaab becomes an official al-Qaeda affiliate in February 2012 Federal Government formed in August 2012 Formation of the Islamic State in Somalia in October 2015 Somali government launches a major offensive in August 2022, and takes at least a third of al-Shabaab territory Las Anod conflict between Somaliland and SSC-Khatumo begins in 2023 Ongoing constitutional crisis in Somalia since 2023, Puntland withdrew its recognition of the Federal Government and declared itself a de facto independent state. Jubaland crisis ongoing since 11 December 2024Las Anod conflict (2023–present) Ongoing Recognition of Khatumo State by Federal Government of Somalia Spillover into Togdheer and Sanaag regions SSC-Khatumo troops capture 3 military bases and towns in the Las Anod District and Sool region. SSC forces push Somaliland army 100 km west from Las Anod
See also List of conflicts in Somaliland
Notes
References
Sources