Somaliland Armed Forces

{{Main|Somaliland Camel Corps|Somaliland Scouts}}

File:Somaliland Scouts.svg]]

In 1914, the Somaliland Camel Corps was formed in British Somaliland and saw service before, during, and after the Italian invasion of the territory during World War II. In 1942, the Somaliland Scouts were tasked with defending the reserve.{{sfn|Metz|1993|pp=199–200}}

Somaliland became independent on 26 June 1960 as the State of Somaliland, and the Trust Territory of Somalia (the former Italian Somaliland) followed suit five days later. On 1 July 1960, the two territories united to form the Somali Republic.{{cite web |title=Somalia: A Country Study – Chapter 5: National Security |url=http://www.marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/Somalia%20Study_3.pdf |publisher=Library of Congress |year=c. 1981 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004045134/http://www.marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/Somalia%20Study_3.pdf |archive-date=4 October 2012}}

After independence, the Somaliland Scouts merged with the former Dervishes to form the 5,000 strong Somali National Army.

{{Main|Somaliland War of Independence}}

In 1981, the Somali National Movement was one of the first rebel groups to form in the country.{{cite web|last=United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services|first=Resource Information Center|title=Somalia: Somali National Movement from its inception through the present|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a6b5f.html}}

Then Somali dictator Siad Barre accused them of being separatist groups and ordered the extermination of the Isaaq tribe,{{Cite journal|last=Ingiriis|first=Mohamed Haji|date=2016-07-02|title="We Swallowed the State as the State Swallowed Us": The Genesis, Genealogies, and Geographies of Genocides in Somalia|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19392206.2016.1208475|journal=African Security|language=en|volume=9|issue=3|pages=237–258|doi=10.1080/19392206.2016.1208475|s2cid=148145948|issn=1939-2206|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/viewfromfoothill0000mull |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/viewfromfoothill0000mull/page/504 504] |quote=Siad barre's holocaust. |title=A View From The Foothills: The Diaries of Chris Mullin |last=Mullin |first=Chris |date=1 October 2010 |publisher=Profile Books |isbn=978-1-84765-186-0 |language=en}} to which the rebel group belonged. The movement fought a guerrilla war in the northwest of the country with the aim of overthrowing and replacing the military government.{{Cite journal|last=Balthasar|first=Dominik|date=2017-07-26|title=State-making at Gunpoint: The Role of Violent Conflict in Somaliland's March to Statehood|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13698249.2017.1343411|journal=Civil Wars|volume=19|pages=65–86|doi=10.1080/13698249.2017.1343411|s2cid=149160219|issn=1369-8249|url-access=subscription}} After the dictator's defeat and special developments in 1991, the Somali sultans decided to abolish unity in 1960 and declared Somaliland an independent state.

{{Main|Somaliland Declaration of Independence}}

In 1991, after Somaliland reasserted its sovereignty, the new government faced great problems with armed groups and armed clans, who were boycotting roads to earn a living.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sayruuq.com/taliyaha-ciidanka-qaranka-oo-sharraxay-taariikhda-iyo-waxqabadka-ciidanka/|title = Taliyaha Ciidanka Qaranka Oo Sharraxay Taariikhda iyo Waxqabadka Ciidanka| newspaper=Sayruuq News |date = 3 February 2018 | author1=Admin }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.togaherer.com/2019/08/05/wax-ka-baro-taariikhda-ciidanka-qaranka-somaliland/|title = Wax ka baro taariikhda ciidanka qaranka somaliland. | ToggaHerer}}

The new government launched the Somaliland peace process jointly with the Somali National Movement. The communities in Somaliland negotiated what led to the Great Reconciliation Conference in Borama in 1993 which allowed the transfer of power from the Somali National Movement.{{Cite web|last1=Ali|first1=Mohamud Omar|last2=Mohammed|first2=Koss|last3=Walls|first3=Michael|date=2007-12-31|title=Peace in Somaliland: An Indigenous Approach to State-building|url=https://www.africaportal.org/publications/peace-somaliland-indigenous-approach-state-building/|access-date=2020-08-27|website=Africa Portal}} An interim government for a new civil administration, paving the way for democratic governance and stability.

After a civilian government led by Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal disarmed armed clans and armed groups and recruited armed forces from all over Somaliland.

The Armed Forces of Somaliland was officially established on 2 February 1994.{{Cite web|url=http://www.somalilandlaw.com/military_law.html|title = Somaliland Military Law}}

{{Main|Puntland–Somaliland dispute}}

{{further|Somalia–Somaliland border}}

In 1998 Puntland State of Somalia claimed Somaliland territory on the basis of clan kinship with some Somaliland communities in the eastern regions of Sool and Sanaag. Which led to tribal and armed conflicts, as a result, The armed forces of Somaliland withdrew from some cities in the eastern regions to avoid casualties until 2007 when the Somaliland communities in the eastern regions demanded that they intervene.

{{main|Chief of the General Staff (Somaliland)}}The Chief of the General Staff (Somali: Taliyaha Guud ee Ciidanka) is the head of the General Staff and the highest ranking officer of the Somaliland Armed Forces. He is appointed by the President of Somaliland, who holds the position of Commander-in-Chief and the head of the Somaliland Armed Forces. The current Chief of the General Staff is Major general Nimcaan Yusuf Osman (Gaaxnuug).{{Cite web |date=2025-01-24 |title=Maxaan ka naqaan taliyaha cusub ee milateriga ee Somaliland, maxaase ka mid ah hawlaha horyaalla |url=https://www.bbc.com/somali/articles/c2l0evvqdywo |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=BBC News Somali |language=so}}

{{Main|Somaliland National Army}}

File:Somaliland Army.jpg]]

The Somaliland army has long operated without a formal rank structure. However, in December 2012, Somaliland defense ministry announced that a chain of command had been developed and which was implemented in January 2013.{{cite news |author1=Somaliland Sun |title=Somaliland: After Two Decades the Armed Forces Come to Age |url=https://www.somalilandsun.com/somaliland-after-two-decades-the-armed-forces-come-to-age/ |access-date=28 September 2020 |work=somalilandsun.com |agency=Somaliland Sun |date=27 November 2012}}

When the former Somali dictator Siad Barre was ousted in 1991, Somaliland inherited the military equipment, hardware and facilities that was left behind by the previous Somali Democratic Republic.

Due to a United Nations arms embargo on Somalia, which the semi-autonomous Somaliland region is internationally recognized as being a part of, the territory is not allowed to purchase weapons. Consequently, military officials from the region rely on repairing and modifying old equipment. Some also claim that weapons are at times delivered from Ethiopia and Yemen via the port of Berbera.

Regular Somaliland soldiers have been seen with SKS carbines (for parades) and various versions of the AK-47.Forberg, Ekkehard and Ulf Terlinden. "[http://www.bits.de/public/pdf/rr99-1.PDF Small Arms in Somaliland: Their Role and Diffusion]" Berlin Information-center for Transatlantic Study (BITS). March 1999. Retrieved February 13, 2013.

File:Commemoration of the 27th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Somaliland National Army.jpg

• Tanks
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} T-55A (Main Battle Tank)
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} T-54B (Main Battle Tank)
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} T-72B (Main Battle Tank)
• Armoured Personnel Carriers
• {{flag icon|Italy}} Fiat 6614
• {{flag icon|Italy}} Fiat 6616 (Turret - 20mm)
• Transport Vehicles
• {{flag icon|Italy}} Iveco LMV (4x4)
• {{flag icon|France}} Renault GBC-180 (6×6)
• {{flag icon|United States}} M939 Truck (6×6)
• {{flag icon|Japan}} Toyota Landcruiser J79
• {{flag icon|Japan}} Toyota Hilux
• {{flag icon|Japan}} Nissan Frontier
• {{flag icon|United States}} Ford F350 (Armoured Gun Truck)
• {{flag icon|United States}} Humvee
• Aircraft
• {{flag icon|Russia}} Ilyushin Il-103 (Military Trainer Aircraft){{Cite web | title=x.com | url=https://x.com/MoBakayle/status/1799443512896758166 | access-date=2024-12-24 | website=x.com}}
• Self-Propelled Artillery
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} BM-21 Grad (Multiple Rocket Launcher - 122mm)
• {{flag icon|United States}} Humvee (Multiple Rocket Launcher)
• {{flag icon|China}} Type 63 multiple rocket launcher (107mm)
• {{flag icon|Ethiopia}} Toyota mounted 4-barrel (122mm-multiple rocket launcher)
• Towed Artillery
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} D-44 (Artillery - 85mm)
• {{flag icon|United States}} M101(Artillery - 105mm)
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} D-30 (Artillery - 122mm)
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} D-74 (Artillery - 122mm)
• {{flag icon|USSR}} M-46 (Artillery - 130mm)
• Mortar
• {{flag icon|United States}} M-224 (Mortar - 60mm)
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} M1938 (Mortar - 120mm)
• Anti-Aircraft Gun
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} ZU-23-2 (Twin-barrelled anti-aircraft gun - 23mm)
• {{flag icon|Soviet Union}} ZPU-4 (Quad-barrelled anti-aircraft gun - 14.5mm)

{{Main|Somaliland Coast Guard}}

File:Somaliland Navy.jpg

The Somaliland Coast Guard ({{langx|so|Ciidanka Bada ee Somaliland}}) was formed in 2009. The headquarters is located in the coastal town of Berbera; a diving center run by foreign divers who train the Somaliland coast guard is also located there. The coast guard operates with small speedboats mounted with guns. Much of this equipment was provided by the United Kingdom, in an effort to combat piracy. The current commander of the coast guard is Ahmed Hurre Haariye.{{Cite web |last=@dm1n_10r1s |date=2023-11-13 |title=Somaliland Coast Guards join the IORIS community |url=https://ioris.org/somaliland-coast-guards-join-the-ioris-community/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Ioris |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Walaaleeye |first=Maxamuud |date=2024-12-04 |title=Coast Guard Mobile Unit Receives Training |url=https://horntribune.com/2024/12/04/coast-guard-mobile-unit-receives-training/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=The Horn Tribune |language=en-US}}

{{main|Military ranks of Somaliland}}

;Officers

;Enlisted

File:Somaliland patrol boat.jpg|Somaliland Patrol Boat of the Somaliland Coast Guard

File:Somaliland Army 1.jpg|Somaliland T-55 main battle tank

File:Somaliland Fiat armored car1.jpg|Somaliland Fiat armored car

File:Scenes from Somaliland Independence Day (29324245600).jpg|Somaliland BM-21 Grad

{{portal|Somaliland}}

• National Service (Somaliland)

{{commons category|Military of Somaliland}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.somtribune.com/2022/01/07/british-consultancy-adam-smith-expected-in-hargeisa-to-advise-army/ British government funded Somaliland Security Programme]

• {{cite book |last=Metz |first=Helen Chapin |year=1993 |chapter=The Warrior Tradition and Development of a National Army |title=Somalia: A Country Study |publisher=Library of Congress Federal Research Division, Thomas Leiper Kane Collection (Library of Congress Hebraic Section) |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-0-84-440775-3}}

{{Military of Somaliland}}{{Somaliland government ministries and agencies|state=expanded}}{{Somaliland topics}}

{{Military of Africa}}

{{Military of the Arab world}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Somaliland Armed Forces}}

Category:Military in Somaliland

Category:1993 establishments in Somaliland

Category:Military units and formations established in 1993

Category:Factions in the Somali Civil War