COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: August 2023

The situation in Awdal should be seen in light of the situation in the neighbouring regions of Wogoyi Galbeed and Togdheer.

Main COI references: [Security 2023, 2.8.1., pp. 178-181; 2.8.4., pp. 190-191; COI Update 2023, 1.3.4., p. 19; Security 2021, 2.7.1.3., p. 145]

General information

Awdal region consists of four districts. The region’s capital is Borama.

Awdal is inhabited by the Dir clans, Gadabursi and Issa, with the regional capital Borama at the centre of the Gadabursi territory.

In 2021, UNOCHA estimated the population of Awdal at 538 211 inhabitants.

Background and actors involved in armed confrontations

Awdal is characterised by stability and safety. The whole region is under the control of the Somaliland administration and security forces.

Clan disputes occur over the use of resources, such as grazing land and the use of mines, without escalating to major conflicts. Clan militias occasionally clash with Somaliland police forces.

Al-Shabaab presence was not reported during the reference period.

Nature of violence and examples of incidents

Clashes between clan militias and Somaliland forces have been reported.

Illustrative incidents include an armed clash between armed men with Somaliland police at a gold mine near Borama in March 2022 and the killing of three civilians in Borama town in May 2022 in the context of clan tensions, as reported.

Incidents: data

ACLED recorded 4 security incidents (an average of 0.1 security incidents per week) in Awdal region between 1 July 2021 and 30 November 2022, ranking the region the lowest in terms of security incidents. Out of those incidents, 2 were coded as ‘battles’ and 2 as ‘violence against civilians’. In the period from 1 December 2022 to 14 April 2023, no security incident was recorded in Awdal.

Geographical scope

All recorded security incidents occurred in Borama district.

Fatalities among civilians and non-civilians

In the 17 months between July 2021 and November 2022, ACLED recorded a total of 5 fatalities in the region. In the 4.5 months between December 2022 and mid-April 2023, ACLED recorded no fatality in the region. Compared to the figures for the population in the region as from 2021, this represents less than 1 fatality per 100 000 inhabitants for the whole reference period.

Displacement

Between July 2021 and November 2022, no individuals were displaced from Awdal due to conflict or insecurity, according to PRMN.

Between December 2022 and March 2023, 660 individuals were newly displaced from Awdal, according to PRMN.

Further impact on  civilians

The presence of entry and exit checkpoints at each district within Somaliland has been reported. Residents can in general freely move around without 'too many security concerns', with the road from Berbera to Hargeisa in general being safe. Since Al-Shabaab presence is very limited, if any, goods and supplies travel back and forth.