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Dhulbahante, Warsangeli clans launch joint campaign to seize Erigavo from Somaliland


Friday January 31, 2025


Clan leaders from the Dhulbahante and Warsangeli communities attend the closing session of the six-day conference in Badhan, Sanaag region, where a joint campaign to reclaim Erigavo from Somaliland’s control was announced.

Mogadishu (HOL) — The Dhulbahante and Warsangeli clans have declared a joint campaign to take control of Erigavo town from Somaliland, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing territorial dispute in northern Somalia.

The decision, announced after a six-day conference held in Badhan, Sanaag region, signals a united front by two key Harti sub-clans to end what they described as “30 years of foreign occupation” under Somaliland’s control. “Effective today, the Dhulbahante and Warsangeli clans have resolved to jointly defend and reclaim Erigavo,” read a statement issued after the meeting.

As part of the resolutions, the clans established a 21-member committee tasked with implementing their strategic plans, including mobilizing resources and coordinating defence operations. The committee will also work closely with Puntland’s military forces, which have been conducting operations in the nearby Almiskaad hills.

“We are optimistic that through strategic coordination and unity, we will secure tangible results,” said one clan elder at the conference. The clans’ alliance with Puntland is expected to boost their campaign, as Puntland has long supported efforts to reclaim territories under Somaliland’s control.

The declaration was reinforced by pledges of support from regional actors, including clan representatives from Ethiopia’s Somali region. The conference organizers acknowledged that the campaign would be conducted under the unified Harti clan name, which holds historical and symbolic significance in the area. Sultan Said Said Abdullahi, the overall leader of the Harti clans, presided over the conference and played a key role in rallying support from both factions.

Erigavo has long been a flashpoint in Somali politics. After the fall of the Barre regime in 1991, the Somali National Movement (SNM) gained control of the area, integrating it into Somaliland’s borders. Over the past three decades, local clans—especially the Dhulbahante and Warsangeli—have opposed this arrangement, citing historical ties to Puntland and the broader federal system of Somalia.


Clan leaders from the Dhulbahante and Warsangeli communities attend the closing session of the six-day conference in Badhan, Sanaag region, where a joint campaign to reclaim Erigavo from Somaliland’s control was announced.



 





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