Sool, Somalia

Sool
Region
Dervish fort in Taleh.
Location in Somalia.
Country	Somaliland
Capital	Las Anod
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Sool (Somali: Sool, Arabic: سول‎‎) is an administrative region (gobol) in northern Somalia.

Overview

With its capital at Las Anod, Sool was historically the seat of the anti-colonial Dervish (Darwiish) movement.

Local control is disputed between Somaliland, Puntland and Khatumo State (formerly HBM-SSC or Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC).

Demographics

The region is mainly inhabited by people from the Somali ethnic group, with the Dhulbahante subdivision of the Harti Darod especially well represented.

Territorial dispute

Main article: Somaliland-Puntland dispute

Under the government of Siad Barre, Sool was not a separate region but part of the larger Nugaal province, with its capital at Garowe. It was separated from Nugaal in the 1980s.

From 2003 until October 2007, Sool was administered by Puntland, a territory with a similar clan composition. In 2007, forces from Somaliland occupied the region and assumed control. There is strong opposition against the presence of Somaliland troops in the region.

In the late 2000s, HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose goal is to establish its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC), was formed.

Districts

The Sool region consists of four districts:

• Aynabo District
• Las Anod District
• Taleh District
• Hudun District

Major towns

• Aynabo
• Boocame
• Dharkayn-Geeyo
• Hudun
• Kalabaydh
• Las Anod
• Taleh

See also

• Khatumo State
• Puntland
• Somaliland

External links

• Administrative map of Sool