Somaliland National Army

Land warfare branch of Somaliland's military

Somaliland National Army

Ciidanka Qaranka Soomaaliland
الجيش صوماليلاندي

Members of the Somaliland National Army

Founded| 1993
Country|  Somaliland
Allegiance| Constitution of Somaliland
Type| Army
Role| Land warfare
Size| 100 000 est.[1]

* * *

Military age: 18 fd

* * *

Part of|  Somaliland Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ| Hargeisa, Somaliland
Motto(s)| "Allaa Mahad Leh, شكرا للاله"
Colors| Green, Red, White
Anniversaries| 27 February[2]
Engagements| Somali Civil War
Somaliland War of Independence
Puntland–Somaliland dispute
Battle of Las Anod
Somali Civil War (2009–present)
2010 Ayn clashes
Battle of Tukaraq
Las Anod conflict
2024 Buhodle clashes
Battle of Erigavo
Battle of Jiidali
Commanders
President of Somaliland| Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi
Minister of Defense| Rooble Muse Abdi
Commander|  Brigadier General Nimcaan Yusuf Osman
Insignia
Flag|
Emblem|
Beret and cap badge|
Patch|

Military unit

The Somaliland National Army (Somali: Ciidanka Qaranka Soomaaliland, Arabic: الجيش صوماليلاندي), is the land force and largest branch of the Somaliland Armed Forces is based in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa. The Somaliland National Army is composed entirely of professionals and volunteers because the army is not mandatory for conscription. Some Somaliland battalions operate near the Puntland border due to a border dispute.[3][4][5]

## History

[edit]

Main articles: Somaliland Camel Corps and Somaliland Scouts

Somaliland Peace Process

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.[6]

The Somaliland National Army was established in 1993 and was established by the Somaliland reconciliation.[7]

## Structure

[edit]

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.

Each Division consists of 3 light infantry brigades.

* Army Command HQ\- Birjeex (Hargeisa)
* 31st Division (Qeybta 31aad)
* JSL 31st Infantry Brigade (Qeyta 31aad Ee Hargeisa)
* JSL Specialised Infantry Battalion
* JSL Mechanized Brigade
* JSL Commandos Regiment (Ciidamada Kamaandowsta)
* 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 (Xeerada Gaaska Ee Burco)
* 3rd Division (Qeybta 3aad) Ceerigaabo
* JSL 3rd Infantry Brigade (Qeyta 3aad Ee Ceerigaabo)
* JSL Mechanized Battalion
* JSL Commandos Regiment ( Ciidamada Kamaandowsta)
* 7th Division (Qeybta 7aad) Laascaanood – Taliska Guud Ee Aaga Bari Goojacade
* JSL 7th Infantry Brigade (Qeyta 7aad Ee Laascaanood)
* JSL Tank Brigade
* JSL Commandos Regiment (Ciidamada Kamaandowsta)
* JSL Specialised Infantry Battalion
* JSL Field Artillery Corps (Xeerada Gaaska Ee Goojacade)
* 19th Division (Qeybta 19aad) Goroyo Cawl
* JSL Specialised Infantry Battalion
* JSL Mechanized Battalion

## Vehicles, Equipment and Camouflage

[edit]

Commemoration of the 27th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Somaliland National Army

* Main Battle Tank
* 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
* T-72B (MBT) – current numbers unknown
* Armoured Fighting Vehicles
* 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
* Panhard AML[8][9]
* Transport Vehicles
* Iveco LMV (4x4)
* Renault GBC-180 (6×6)
* M939 Truck (6×6)
* Toyota Landcruiser J79
* Toyota Hilux
* Nissan Frontier
* Ford F350 (Armoured Gun Truck)
* Humvee
* 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
* U.S. Woodland (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
AK-74M | Soviet Union | Somaliland modernised version of the AK
AK-103 | Russia | Imported from Ethiopia
FN FAL | Belgium | Current origins of this weapon is unknown
M16A1 | United States | Current origins of this weapon is unknown
Sidearm
Skorpion vz. 61 | Czechoslovak | Seized after the Somaliland War of Independence
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

[edit]

Main article: Military ranks of Somaliland

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

|
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Somaliland National Army

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sareeye guud | Sareeye gaas | Sareeye guuto | Gashaanle sare | Gashaanle dhexe | Gashaanle | Dhamme | Laba xídígle | Xídígle
Rank group  | Senior NCOs  | Junior NCOs  | Enlisted

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Somaliland National Army

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* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Chief warrant officer
Musharax sarkaal | Warrant officer class 1
Sadex xarígle | Warrant officer class 2
Laba xarígle | Warrant officer class 3
Xarígle | Sergeant
Sadex alífle | Corporal
Laba alífle | Lance corporal
Alífle | Private
(or equivalent)
Dable

## Gallery

[edit]

* Woman with the rank of Laba xídígle in Somaliland Army

* Somaliland Army in Independence Day Parade.

* Women undergoing training in the Somaliland Army.

* Somaliland Technical.

* Somaliland BM-21 Grad

## Combat History

[edit]

### Somaliland War of Independence

[edit]

Main article: 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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)

[edit]

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)

[edit]

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.[10] 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.[11]

## See also

[edit]

* Somaliland portal

* Somaliland Armed Forces
* Somaliland Coast Guard
* Somaliland Police Force

## References

[edit]

Citations

1. ^ Hasan, Yusuf M. (27 November 2012). "Somaliland: After Two Decades the Armed Forces Come to Age". indepthafrica.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
2. ^ "Xuska Sannad-Guurada 27aad Ee Aas-Aaska Ciidanka Qaranka Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland". Government of Somaliland.
3. ^ "UK seeking working relationship with Somaliland on military matters". 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020.
4. ^ "Ciidanka Somaliland oo xirtay darajo – BBC Somali – Warar". www.bbc.com.
5. ^ "Ciidanka Somaliland oo maanta dhaqdhaqaaqyo ka wada gobolka Cayn. – Mustaqbal Radio".
6. ^ "Wax ka baro taariikhda ciidanka qaranka somaliland. | ToggaHerer".
7. ^ ""Ma seexdayaasha Aynu Ku seexano" Taariikhda Ciidanka Qaranka Somaliland". 18 July 2018.
8. ^ "Panhard AFV Family". Jason W. Henson. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
9. ^ Somaliland's Resurgence a Key to CT War. Defense & Foreign Affairs Strategic Policy journal. Alexandria: Oct 2003. Vol.31, Iss. 10; pg. 9
10. ^ "What's driving conflict in the disputed Somali city of Las Anod?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
11. ^ Horton, Micheal (November 2019). "How Somaliland Combats al-Shabaab". CTC Sentinel. 12 (10): 24. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2023.

## External links

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