Dhahar

Dhahar is a town in the eastern Sanaag region, and the capital of the Dhahar District. Reuters reports Dhahar as a Puntland town in 2021, but also reports how it condemns President Puntland and supports President Somalia. Somali Broadcasting Corporation reports in 2019 that Dhahar is a town effectively controlled by Somaliland. One Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, an NHS Foundation Trust in England, researcher describes Dhahar as a district in Puntland in 2014.

Overview
The town is disputed between Somaliland and Puntland, who has significant influence in the town. In November 2009, Puntland and Somaliland forces clashed near Dhahar.

In 2016 an incident occurred between the two entities in Boodda-Cad, a remote settlement 30km west of Dhahar. According to Somaliland MP, Baar Said, the skirmishes took place away from Dhahar. A Somaliland Armed Forces base is present in the town where the 93rd division is positioned.

In January 2018, Gamal Mohamed Hassan, the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation visited Dhahar, as well as the city of Badhan in the Sanaag region along with Puntland officials.

In March 2021 police fired into the air to disperse pro-Farmaajo/anti Deni demonstrators in Dhahar district.

In August 2022, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Dani visited Dhahar and laid the foundation for a road connecting Dhahar and Hingalol. The 45 km road between Dhahar and Sheerbi is almost complete, but the road between Dhahar and Hingalol is only 20 km out of 70 km.

External sites

 * Dhahar: Somalia, geographic.org