Hudun

Hudun (Somali: Xudun) is a historical town in the northern Sool, region of Somalia,^[2] and the seat of the Hudun District.^[3] Khatumo has effectively controlled there since around 2023.^{[citation needed]}

Hudun هودون
Town
Seal
Hudun Location in Somalia
Coordinates: 9°09′15.0″N 47°28′37.0″E
Country	Somalia
Regional State	Khatumo
District	Hudun
Population  (2007)[1]
• Total	3,258
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)

Overview

Located in north west Somalia, and southeast Somaliland, Hudun lies 59 kilometres north by road from the provincial capital of Las Anod.^[4]

Education

According to the Ministry of National Planning and Development in Somaliland, there are 9 primary schools and 1 secondary school in the Hudun District.^[5]

History

On February 15, 1960, before Somaliland's independence, the first democratic elections were held in British Somaliland, and Ibrahim Eid was selected as the representative from Hudun.^[6]

The Somaliland government did not hold polls here during the 2005 Somaliland parliamentary election, citing Hudun as a disputed territory.^[7]

In March 2012, the militant group Al-Shabaab near Hudun was exterminated by Somali Federal Army and Ethiopian Army.^[8]

In November 2012, the president of Khatumo State declared victory in the battle against the Somaliland army in Hudun.^[9]

In January 2013, Khatumo militia based in southern Hudun were defeated and displaced by Somaliland forces.^[10] The captured militia were imprisoned in Burao.^[11]

In August 2017, the Somaliland government held a voting process for national elections in Hudun, which was opposed by Hudun residents as belonging to Puntland, and a clash took place between the Somaliland army and local forces in Hudun.^[12]

In May 2021, voter turnout in Hudun and other Dhulbahante clan-inhabited areas in the Somaliland parliamentary election was significantly higher than in the previous election in 2005.^[13]

Notable residents

• Hassan Dahir Afqurac, Third Vice President of Puntland
• Ahmed Elmi Osman, Fifth Vice President of Puntland
• Hodan Nalayeh, Somali-Canadian social activist and entrepreneur. (1976–2019)

Demographics

The City of Hudun is primarily populated by the Dhulbahante clan, with the Naleye Ahmed - Ugadhyahan sub-lineages of the Mohamoud Garad branch of the Dhulbahante clan are well-represented.^[14]