Country Somalia Somaliland Capital Las Anod | Time zone EAT (UTC+3) University Nugaal University | |
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Sool (Somali: Sool, Arabic: سول) is an administrative region (gobol) in northern Somalia, but is controlled by Somaliland. Local control is disputed between Somaliland, Puntland and Khatumo State (formerly HBM-SSC or Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC).
Contents
Map of Sool, Somalia
History
With its capital at Las Anod, Sool was historically the seat of the anti-colonial Dervish (Darwiish) movement.
Demographics
The region is mainly inhabited by people from the Somali ethnic group, with the Dhulbahante subdivision of the Harti Darod as well as Isaaq subdivisions of Habar Jeclo and Habar yunis especially well represented.
Territorial dispute
Under the government of Siad Barre of Somali Republic, Sool was not a separate region but part of the larger Burco province (there were two provinces in Somaliland, Burco and Hargeisa, with its capital at Burao.) It was Siad Barre's government that made Sool a region in the 80s, with its capital at Lasanod.
From 2003 until October 2007, Sool was administered by Puntland, a territory with a similar clan composition. In 2007, forces from Somaliland assumed control of the region.
In the late 2000s, HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist opposition group whose goal is to establish its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC), was formed. The group engaged with talks with the government of Somaliland which resulted in their participation in the political process, and as a result of the negotiations SSC has been included in the current government of Somaliland
Districts
The Sool region consists of four districts: