The Somaliland National Army (, ) is the land force and largest branch of the Somaliland Armed Forces, based in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa. The Somaliland National Army is composed entirely of professionals and volunteers, as the state does not mandate conscription. Some Somaliland battalions operate near the Puntland border due to a border dispute.

The total strength of the Somaliland army is estimated to be around 8,000 to 12,000 soldiers.

History

The history of the Somaliland army dates back to the Protectorate era, which was founded by the British Army as the Somaliland Camel Corps in the 20th. In 1941 World War II Italy invaded British Somaliland. In December 1941 after the liberation of British Somaliland from Italy. Somaliland Scouts has dissolution of the Somaliland Camel Corps in 1942, which was formerly tasked with the defense of the protectorate.

The Somaliland National Army was established in 1993 and was established by the Somaliland reconciliation.

Structure The Somaliland Army is governed by the Ministry of Defence, and headquartered in Hargeisa. The Somaliland Armed Forces' Chief of Staff's office is in Hargeisa. He is the Chief of Staff of the Army, as well as the Navy and Air Forces, although the latter two typically report to the Ministry of Defence.

The Army currently operates 5 Divisions across 2 military regions. Each Division is equipped with a mechanised brigade with 3 specifically equipped with artillery batteries.

There were an estimated 8,000 soldiers in the army according to Somaliland Chief of Staff General Nuh Ismail Tani during an interview in 2019. The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2024 global military balance study observed that there were around 12,500 soldiers in the Somaliland army.

Each Division consists of 3 light infantry brigades. Army Command HQ- Birjeex (Hargeisa) 31st Division (Qeybta 31aad) JSL 31st Infantry Brigade () JSL Specialised Infantry Battalion JSL Mechanized Brigade JSL Commandos Regiment () JSL Army Band JSL Tank Brigade 12th Division (Qeybta 12aad) Burco JSL 12th Infantry Brigade (Qeyta 12aad Ee Burco) JSL Mechanized Battalion JSL Field Artillery Corps () 3rd Division (Qeybta 3aad) Ceerigaabo JSL 3rd Infantry Brigade () JSL Mechanized Battalion JSL Commandos Regiment ( Ciidamada Kamaandowsta) 7th Division (Qeybta 7aad) Laascaanood – JSL 7th Infantry Brigade () JSL Tank Brigade JSL Commandos Regiment () JSL Specialised Infantry Battalion JSL Field Artillery Corps () 19th Division (Qeybta 19aad) JSL Specialised Infantry Battalion JSL Mechanized Battalion

Equipment - Heckler & Koch G3 -FN FAL - M72 LAW

Main Battle Tank T-72B (MBT) – current numbers unknown T-55A (1974–1976) (MBT) – 87 in service and 42+ in operational service T-54B (1974–1976) (MBT) – 40 in service and 31+ in operational service Armored Fighting Vehicles Panhard AMLSomaliland's Resurgence a Key to CT War. Defense & Foreign Affairs Strategic Policy journal. Alexandria: Oct 2003. Vol.31, Iss. 10; pg. 9 Tygor-E2 – 3+ in both operational service and regular service Fiat 6614 (APC) – 5+ in both operational service and regular service Fiat 6616 (Turret – 20 mm, APC) 1+ in both operational service and regular service Fiat 6616 (UB-16 Rockets, Turret – 20 mm) – 3+ in both operational service and regular service Transport Vehicles Toyota Landcruiser J79 Toyota Hilux Nissan Frontier M939 Truck (6×6) Ford F350 (Armoured Gun Truck) Humvee Renault GBC-180 (6×6) Iveco LMV (4x4) China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Howo Troop Transport trucks - 100 + in service Self-Propelled Artillery BM-21 Grad (Multiple Rocket Launcher – 122 mm) – estimated 100 in both regular service and operational service Humvee (Multiple Rocket Launcher) Towed Artillery D-44 (85 mm) M101 (105 mm) D-30 (122 mm) D-74 (122 mm) M-46 (130 mm)

Mortar M-224 (60 mm) M1938 (120 mm) Anti-Aircraft Gun ZU-23-2 (Twin-barreled anti-aircraft gun – 23 mm) ZPU-4 (Quad-barrelled anti-aircraft gun – 14.5mm) Camo Digital/ACU custom made by Somaliland (Primary Camo)

Weapon Origin Notes Assault Rifle AK-47 Soviet Union Imported from Ethiopia and Yemen AKM Soviet Union Imported from Ethiopia and Yemen AK-74 Soviet Union Imported from Ethiopia and Yemen CAR 816 UAE Imported from the UAE AK-103 Russia Imported from Ethiopia FN FAL Belgium Current origins of this weapon is unknown FN FNC Belgium Current origins of this weapon is unknown M4 USA Current origins of this weapon is unknown Sidearm IWI Masada Israel Sourced from Ethiopia TT Pistol Soviet Union Seized after the Somaliland War of Independence Sniper Rifle Dragunov Sniper Rifle Soviet Union Seized after the Somaliland War of Independence Barrett M82 United States Spotted in the 18 May 2023 independence parade Machine Gun PK Soviet Union Seized after the Somaliland War of Independence DShK Soviet Union Seized after the Somaliland War of Independence NSV Soviet Union Seized after the Somaliland War of Independence RPK-74 Soviet Union Seized after the Somaliland War of Independence Anti Tank Weapons RPG-7 Soviet Union Seized after the Somaliland War of Independence Drill Purpose Rifles SKS Soviet Union Seized after the Somaliland War of Independence

Ranks

Gallery

Combat history Somaliland War of Independence

The Somaliland War of Independence (Somali: Dagaalkii Xoraynta Soomaaliland, lit. 'Somaliland Liberation War') was a rebellion waged by the Somali National Movement against the ruling military junta in Somalia led by General Siad Barre lasting from its founding on 6 April 1981 and ended on 18 May 1991 when the SNM declared what was then northern Somalia independent as the Republic of Somaliland. The conflict served as the main theatre of the larger Somali Rebellion that started in 1978. The conflict was in response to the harsh policies enacted by the Barre regime against the main clan family in Somaliland, the Isaaq, including a declaration of economic warfare on the Isaaq. These harsh policies were put into effect shortly after the conclusion of the disastrous Ogaden war in 1978.

During the ongoing conflict between the forces of the Somali National Movement and the Somali Army, the Somali government's genocidal campaign against the Isaaq took place between May 1988 and March 1989, with explicit aims of handling the "Isaaq problem", Barre ordered the shelling and aerial bombardment of the major cities in the northwest and the systematic destruction of Isaaq dwellings, settlements and water points. The Siad Barre regime targeted civilian members of the Isaaq group specifically, especially in the cities of Hargeisa and Burao and to that end employed the use of indiscriminate artillery shelling and aerial bombardment against civilian populations belonging to the Isaaq clan.

Puntland–Somaliland dispute The Puntland–Somaliland dispute is a territorial dispute over the provinces of Sool, Sanaag and the Buuhoodle district of Togdheer region between the self-declared Republic of Somaliland and the Puntland state of Somalia. The territory was historically part of British Somaliland, a British protectorate that granted independence in 1960 and then formed a union with neighboring Italian colony Trust Territory of Somaliland to form the Somali Republic. When the Somaliland War of Independence was concluded and the Somali Civil War broke out, Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 as a successor state to the British protectorate and declared independence from Somalia.

The dispute started in 1998, when Puntland was formed as an autonomous state of Somalia and declared the region as part of its territory based on tribal affiliation of the locals.

Battle of Las Anod

The Battle of Las Anod saw Somaliland forces engage Puntland forces in Las Anod, capital of the Sool region. The ensuing battle resulted in Somaliland ousting the Puntland army from the city. Las Anod had until then been controlled by Puntland, who took control of the regional capital in 2002.

Somaliland had however been aiding local clan militias opposed to Puntland presence in the city. The clan militias were loyal to Ahmed Abdi Habsade, a former Puntland minister who later on defected to Somaliland. In October 2007, the conflict mushroomed into a regional conflict over control of the city of Las Anod, as Somaliland regular army forces mobilized from their base in the town of Adhicadeeye, west of the city, and entered the conflict. Puntland was slow to mobilize a counter-attack, as Puntland's weak economy and overstretched military obligations in Mogadishu prevented a rapid response. After assuming control of the city on October 15, Somaliland moved Sool's regional administration into Las Anod. Between 10 and 20 people were reported to be dead.

2010 Ayn clashes The 2010 Ayn clashes saw Somaliland forces engage Dulbahante clan militia in the Buuhoodle district. The battle was prompted by Ethiopian troops seizing a truck belonging to locals in Buuhoodle, sparking a response from residents and Ethiopian retaliatory attack on Buuhoodle and a Somaliland attack upon Widhwidh. More clashes were reported to have occurred near Widhwidh on 19 July 2010.

Battle of Tukaraq (2018) In 2018, the Battle of Tukaraq saw Somaliland forces engage Puntland forces in Tukaraq, a town in the eastern Sool region, on the road between the regional capitals of Las Anod and Garowe. The ensuing heavy clashes resulted in Somaliland ousting the Puntland army from the town. The battle was significant as it was the first time both forces clashed directly.

Las Anod Conflict (2023) The 2023 Las Anod conflict is an ongoing armed conflict between the Somaliland National Army and the militia forces of the Dhulbahante in Las Anod, the capital of the Sool region. Fighting erupted on February 6 after Somaliland security forces held a crackdown on civil protests. On 19 October 2023, the Federal Government in Somalia recognized Las Anod and the greater SSC-Khaatumo region as being independent of Somaliland.

See also

Somaliland Coast Guard Somaliland Police Force

References Citations

External links