Togdheer consists of four districts: Sheikh, Owdweyne, Burco (or Burao) and Buhodle (or Buuhoodle). The region’s capital is Burco (or Burao).781 As of January 2026, Togdheer’s population was estimated at 894 874.782 For more detailed background information on Togdheer, see section 2.8.3. of the EUAA COI Report Somalia: Security Situation (May 2025).
According to Map 3 Somalia – Approximate Territorial Control as of 31 March 2026 and Map 2 Somalia – Approximate Territorial Control as of 31 March 2025, the entire region, including the cities of Owdweyne and Burco, was reported to be under the control of the ‘Somaliland administration (separatist)’.783 For information regarding control areas in Buhodle district please see section 2.7.1. Sool.
Figure 43: Evolution of security events and fatalities in Togdheer per month, based on ACLED data.784
In the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, ACLED recorded five security incidents in Togdheer region (excluding Buhodle district), including battles, and violence against civilians, causing one fatality.785 Four of the five recorded incidents involved violence against civilians by (sub-)clan militias.786
Figure 44: Evolution of security events per type, based on ACLED data.787
Illustrative security incidents
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On 15 May 2025, at least 6 people were killed and 18 others injured in clashes between protesters and security forces in Burao, after protests erupted following rumours regarding the release of SSC-Khatumo prisoners.788 ACLED recorded the incident under event type ‘riots’ and noted that 2 people were killed.789
- Conflict-related displacement
According to the UNHCR PRMN, no individuals were newly displaced from Togdheer region (excluding Buhodle district) due to conflict or insecurity in the period from April 2025 to Februrary 2026. 36 individuals arrived from other regions, all arrived in Burco from Buhodle.790
Other impacts on civilian life and humanitarian situation
A December 2025 map by UNOCHA showed ‘very limited restrictions’ regarding humanitarian access in most parts, while on the northern border to Wogoyi Galbeed and on the southern border to Buhodle district small areas showed ‘limited restrictions’.791 In total, UNOCHA recorded two humanitarian access incidents in 2025 (including Buhodle district).792 Regarding the food insecurity situation as of January 2026, IPC reported that about 63 % of the total analysed population of 894 874 (including Buhodle district) were either in Acute Food Insecurity IPC Phase 2 (stressed, 46 %), 3 (crisis, 13 %) or 4 (emergency, 4 %).793 As of November 2025, Boocame, Duruqsi, Ay Jeex, Cali Ciise, and Yucub-Yaboh were ‘severely impacted’ by drought conditions.794 NRC data for 2025 and early 2026 (including Buhodle) showed the eviction of 202 individuals.795
- 781
UNOCHA, Somalia Administrative Reference Map, as of 20 July 2023, url
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IPC, Somalia: Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition Analysis January-June 2026, 24 February 2026, url, p. 4
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PolGeoNow, Somalia Approximate Territorial Control, as of 31 March 2026, n.a.; PolGeoNow, Somalia Approximate Territorial Control, as of 31 March 2025, n.a.
- 784
EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Somalia, data covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, as of 16 April 2026, url
- 785
EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Somalia, data covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, as of 16 April 2026, url
- 786
EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Somalia, data covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, as of 16 April 2026, url
- 787
EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Somalia, data covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, as of 16 April 2026, url
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Horn Observer, Somaliland Police Kill 6, 18 Others Injured During Violent Burao Protest, 17 May 2025, url
- 789
EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Somalia, data covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, as of 16 April 2026, url
- 790
UNHCR, PRMN Datafile – Somalia, as of 16 April 2026, url
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UNOCHA, Somalia Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2026, 27 January 2026, url, p. 17
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UNOCHA, Humanitarian Access Snapshot (2025), 8 January 2026, url
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IPC, Somalia: Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition Analysis January-June 2026, 24 February 2026, url, p. 4
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UNHCR, Protection and Solutions Monitoring Network Flash Alert 18, November 2025, 2 December 2025, url, p. 1
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NRC, Evictions, n.d., url, filter ‘2025’ and ‘2026’, respectively, as year, ‘Togdheer’ as region. Numbers include data until 31 March 2026, as of 8 April 2026.