Cayn

Cayn or Ayn is an administrative region that Puntland unilaterally declared to be established in the 2000s. However, there is Somaliland between Cayn and Puntland, and they do not directly border each other. Somaliland has legally designated this area as its territory as Buhoodle District. SSC-Khatumo, which declared its secession from Somaliland in 2023, claims the territories of Sanaag, Sool, and Cayn, as its name implies, and effectively controls Buuhoodle.

Cayn is derived from Aynaba (Somali: Caynaba). Aynaba was inhabited by the Dhulbahante clan until the early 20th century, but the British government armed the Habr Je'lo clan and occupied during the Dervish movement. Since then, Aynaba has been the subject of conflict between Habr Je'lo and Dhulabahante.^: 61