Somaliland is an unrecognised de-facto independent state located in northwest Somalia in the Horn of Africa.
During colonial times, the region was the British Somaliland Protectorate. It did not join a united Somalia until 1960. British Somaliland became independent on 26th June 1960 as the State of Somaliland, and Italian Somaliland’s independence came four days later, whereupon the two entities immediately merged on 1st July 1960 as the Somali Republic. Between 1981 and 1991, the Somali National Movement (SNM), a rebel army of mostly northern Somali followers, waged an armed insurrection against the regime of Mohamed Said Barre and his Somali National Army (SNA). This period saw the indiscriminate use of landmines against the civilian population, their homes and farmlands.
In 1991, after the collapse of the central government in Somalia, the people of Somaliland declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes six of the eighteen administrative regions of Somalia.
The majority of the landmine problem in Somaliland comes as a result of over 18 years of warfare. Most of the minefields were laid during 1979 – 1988 war between Somalia and Ethiopia (known as the Ogoden war) and later during Somalia civil war in 1988-1991 that led to Somaliland’s de-facto independence. It’s believed that some additional minefields were laid during the more recent conflict over border disputes between Somaliland and Puntland.
In general, minefields in Somaliland fall into one of the following groups.
Border defence. Laid in the 1970’s by the Somalia National Army (SNA) consisting of anti-personnel (AP) and anti-tank (AT) mines to prevent mechanized assault by Ethiopia during and immediately after the Ogaden war.
Border defence. Laid in the 1980’s by the SNA (mostly AP) to prevent incursions by the Somaliland National Movement (SNM) and other rebel groups operating from Ethiopia – and later laid in the disputed areas in Somaliland and Puntland border.
Base defence. Perimeter minefields laid in the 1980’s by the SNA around military positions on or near the border (AP & AT) to protect against attacks.
Routes. Laid by the SNM on roads and tracks used by the SNA in order to disrupt logistics.
And to a lesser extent
Routes. Laid by the SNA on tracks running towards Ethiopia to prevent refugee exodus.
Factional/Clan. Sporadic mining based around land or blood-feud disputes.
The most recent use of landmines in Somaliland took place between 1994 and 1995 when militias opposed to the regime of Somaliland President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal and loyalist forces fought fierce battles in Hargeisa (the capital) and areas south and east of Hargeisa.
In 2009 the Somaliland House of Representatives approved legislation banning the use of anti-personnel (AP) mines.
Source:HALO Trust

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1 COMMENT

  1. May Allah Punish all the Faqash who harmed innocent people and those whose actions are still killing innocent civilians.

    • Well, first of all you should know the land mines were laid with the help of your fellow Is@@q men. Remember Riyale (your so called ex President) was the head of the NSS section in North-west. When you say: ''and those whose actions are still killing innocent civilians'', remember, your fellow Is@@q's are funding Godane. You see you wish for something, not knowing that wish will hit you.

      • Don't be stupid kid. I have no respect for any killer or anyone that takes an innocent life. Ina-Godane is a wanted criminal in my country now if Somalia seems to welcome all our criminal and mentally ill politicians should we be responsible?

        NO

        Specially not for Dirty-Waqoyis nor Burka wearing leaders of Islamic courts unions. It is like saying Fuad Shangole is armed and funded by Faroole who is his uncle. It is like blaming Saado Cali for funding Sheik Atom and Khaatumo-terrorists 🙂

        I felt sorry for her when she broke into pieces in her car crash then i was disgusted to see her fighting for a seat in muuqdishu parliament instead of making cibaado in the mosque 🙁 but it was interesting seeing her sabotage ali Khalif Galyr and vote against him in such a cold fashion.

        When is her next top of the charts single coming out??? she can perhaps call it: Ma jidhin

        Ma Jidhin Ma Jidhin
        Dorasho Majidhin
        Ma Jidhin Majidhin
        Dulqaad Majidhin
        Majidhin Majidhin
        Darood Majidhin
        Majidhin Majidhin
        Dawlad Majidhin

    • What a useless soul you're! Surely, you tried your best to plant as much as you can, but what did you gain from it? Whether you're waranle or qurjile, you will always be a big loser and used stuff, simply because it takes you thousand of years to think like the normal human beings. Look, you will never learn any lessons from your former masters of the Mad Mullah and Afweine Barre who both died in exile under a horrible cicumstances, and now you are looking for some one to use you by the clan name that you share with him.

      • Dude. You are traitor and should die as such….. I don't feel sympathy for those who betray their nation and take orders from the enemy…..

  3. Those mines were huge problem and still some remain but those days arelong gone and its time to move on and stop the fake Holocuast style drama and calacaal…thanks Halo Trust for your work in northern Somalia.

  4. Thanks Halo but for goodness sake avoid saying de facto Somaliland but say de jure Somaliland
    before and after 1991 to current status quo…okay Sir???
    Cheers.

  6. DEATH TO FAQASH I HATE FAQASH MORE THEN ANY OTHER HUMAN BEINGS IN THE WHOLE WORLD FAQASH WILL ALWAYS BE OUR NUMBER ONE ENEMY NO MATER WHAT FAQASH SAY

  7. To Mr. Kayse: The landmines layd by your Faqash, are still killing the people of Somaliland including your villages east of Hargeisa, and you are talking like this. Shame on you. Any word you says will be recorded against you, and waiting for you at the day of judgement, and your tongue will speak without your approval, and you will end-up the Hell.

    INCREASE YOUR SIN WHILE SUPPORTING THOSE WHO KILLED YOU PEOPLE.

  8. Somali and Siad regime could be the only ones who mined their own civilians, because they belonged the wrong clan. I have seen children affected badly by mines. I assisted once two young children one was 4 year old boy and other was 7 year girl. The 4 year old part of his face was missing and we used to fill gauze in his cheek and he could not open both of his eyes for months. He was without treatment for days before he was brought in the hospital ,because of the location where his family lived, country side. The young girl also her forhead and eye were damaged badly and and she was in severe pain when she arrived at hospital, imagine child maoning with pain! the sad thing is those childred had not done anything at all, I guess they belonged wrong clan. The regime at that time decided even the children of this clan should not be playing in peace, Sad indeed! I am suprised ! Kayse person who is just dismissing what happened to Somaliland civilians or may be I should not because its just Kayse person talking !

  9. We should have nuked Hargeisa when we had the chance but we didn't but I think it would be better just to send in an entire SNA to Hargeisa and show these Ethiopian stopge (SNM) who's boss.

    • LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

      FIRST TRY TO TAKE BACK SANAAG

  10. Some people are naago by nature and some just cry like them for decades even Jews have stopped playing the victim card…those two sub clans wont even part of the Garhajis-Siyad Bare war. Not sure why they cry and cry every day…they deserve to be nuked if you ask me…okay Im kidding about nuking the naago but come on stp playing the widow card. RIP Siad and all Somalis who lost their lives to senseless tribalism started by the two habro that hide behind "Isaaq" but are Ethiopian Tigrays.