2.8.3. Togdheer

According to a UNOCHA Administrative Reference Map, Togdheer region shares an international border with Ethiopia. Internally, it borders the regions of Wogoyi Galbeed, Sool, and Sanaag. It consists of four districts: Sheikh, Owdweyne, Burco (or Burao) and Buhodle (or Buuhoodle). The region’s capital is Burco (or Burao).1367 Information related to Buhodle district is covered in section 2.7.1 Sool.

As of September 2024, sources variously estimated the population of Togdheer region at 860 684 (IPC),1368 and 363 403 (IOM).1369 Togdheer region is mainly inhabited by Habar Yunis and Habar Je’lo (also known as Habar Jeclo) clans. Along with other minority sub-clans considered to be a part of the Habar Yunis clan, members of the Idagalle are living in the region west of Burco.1370 All three1371 political parties in Somaliland, Kulmiye, Waddani and Kaah, ‘are headed by leaders from the Habar Jeclo’ clan.1372 In the November 2024 Somaliland presidential elections, elders of the Habar Je’lo clan ‘declared their endorsement of Waddani party’s opposition candidate, Abdirahman Abdillahi Cirro’,1373 claiming that former president Muse Bihi Abdi supported his Habar Awal clan while in power. Prominent Habar Je’lo clan members also said they had been the ones most affected by the fighting in Sool (see section 2.7.1 Sool) that broke out under Bihi's presidency.1374 Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (‘Cirro’) is a member of the Habar Yunis clan1375 and won the 13 November 2024 elections with 63.92 % of the vote.1376

Al-Shabaab control areas, presence and influence, along with other actors

According to Map 3 Somalia – Approximate Territorial Control as of 31 March 2025 and Map 2 Somalia – Approximate Territorial Control as of 1 April 2023, Al-Shabaab did not control any territory in Togdheer region. The entire region, including the cities of Owdweyne and Burco, was reported to be under the control of the ‘Somaliland administration (separatist)’.1377 For information regarding control areas in Buhodle district please see section 2.7.1 Sool.

The Gacaan Libaah militia is associated with the Habar Yunis clan (Garhajis, Isaaq),1378 and ‘launched its insurgency’ in July 2023. The group was based in based in the Ga’an Libaah mountain range.1379 Another group, the ‘so-called Jeegaan alliance’ (also known as ‘Baha Iidoor’ clan alliance or Jeegaanta Somaliland)1380 is a coalition of Habar Je’lo and Habar Awal1381 (including members of the Isse Muse sub-clan of the Habar Awal) clans.1382 As of early September 2023, ‘Go’da-Weyn, Libi Sagaalo, Haji Salah (Xaaji Saalax), Duruqsi, Hahi (Xaaxi), Biyo Fadhiisinka, Raydab Khaatumo, Go’da Yar, Warabeye (Waraabeeye), Dabagorayaale, Salahley (Sallaxley), Qalo’ato (Qaloocato), and other small settlements’ were reportedly controlled by the Gacaan Libaah.1383 In September 2023, Somaliland President Muse Bihi agreed to a settlement in a long-running election-related dispute and offered to pardon the Gacaan Libaah militia in exchange for disbanding. The group accepted the offer and demobilised.1384 However, in June 2024, Bihi declared that members of the Gacaan Libaah movement who rebelled against the government in August 2023 would be placed on trial, contradicting the agreement.1385

Conflict dynamics

In May 2023, the Somaliland Army responded to inter-clan clashes that erupted in villages near Burco, involving two Isaaq sub-clans,1386 resulting in two deaths.1387 In July 2023, Somaliland forces clashed with the newly created Gacaan Libaah militia1388 in Togdheer’s Gacaan Libaah mountains.1389

In August 2023, Somaliland security forces were ambushed in Godayar district, Togdheer region, by a ‘newly-formed militia composed of members of Haber Yonis clan’, resulting in the killing of nine Somaliland security force members1390 and the wounding of seventeen others.1391 Please also see section 2.8.2 Wogoyi Galbeed as this incident may have been mistakenly attributed to Togdheer region.

Between late September and early October 2023 clan tensions in Togdheer's capital, Burco, and Sanaag's capital, Erigabo, were reported, leading to minor skirmishes.1392 For example, on 19 September 2023, Habar Yunis clan members clashed with members of the Isse Muse clan, a sub-clan of Habar Awal, the clan former Somaliland President Muse Bihi belongs to.1393

No more recent information on conflict dynamics in Togdheer could be found.

Security incidents, estimated civilian fatalities and casualties

Between 1 April 2023 and 21 March 2025, ACLED reported 21 security incidents in Togdheer region (without Buhodle district), including battles and violence against civilians, causing 17 fatalities. Figure 25 below shows their evolution per type across the reference period.1394 At district level, Burco recorded the most security incidents (13 incidents), followed by Owdweyne district (8 incidents).1395

Figure 25. Evolution of ACLED security events coded ‘battles’, ‘explosions/remote violence’ and ‘violence against civilians’ between 1 April 2023 and 21 March 2025 in Togdheer.1396

Conflict-related displacement

Between 1 April 2023 and 16 March 2025, 7 712 individuals were newly displaced from Togdheer (without Buhodle district) due to conflict or insecurity, according to the UNHCR PRMN. Of this group, 7 518 individuals were displaced within the same administrative region (without Buhodle), and of these 7 008 individuals were displaced within Burco. 194 individuals were displaced to other regions, including Sanaag and Wogoyi Galbeed. At district level, Burco recorded the highest number of individuals leaving for other regions (180). All 2 160 individuals arriving from other regions (including Buhodle) arrived in Burco district. 919 arrived from Caynabo district, with 840 of these arriving in September 2023.1397 For information on conflict-related displacement in Togdheer region prior to April 2023, please see section 2.8.3 of the  EUAA COI Report Somalia: Security Situation (February 2023).

Other impacts on civilian life

UNOCHA recorded six humanitarian access incidents in Togdheer region (including Buhodle district) in the period from April to December 2023,1398 and another six in 2024.1399 In the period between October and December 2024, for example, the region ‘experienced significant food aid looting, leading to the suspension of a UN-led operation in SSC-Khaatumo administered areas.’1400