The Somaliland Coast Guard (Somali: Ciidanka ilaalada Xeebaha Somaliland, Arabic: خفر سواحل صوماليلاندي) is the maritime law enforcement, search and rescue and coastal defence branch of the Somaliland Armed Forces, founded on 2 October 1995.[1][2][3][4][5]

There are approximately 600 members of the coast guard.[6]

Organization

Rank structure

Main article: Military ranks of Somaliland
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Somaliland Coast Guard
Admiraal kuxigeenka Admiraal gaas Admiraal guuto Gashaanle sare Gashaanle dhexe Gashaanle Dhamme Laba xídígle Xídígle

International cooperation

In July 2025 the Somaliland Coast Guard signed a cooperation agreement with Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration.[7]

Equipment

In 2011, the Somaliland Coast Guard had extremely limited equipment. Their vessels consisted of two 20-foot motor boats and they were armed with AK-47 rifles and RPG-7 rocket launchers.[8] In the following decade, the Coast Guard received a total of seven Defender-class boats, four from Italy and three from Sweden. Additionally, the SLCG received three cars from the European Union in 2018.[9]

Vessels

Ship type Number Acquired Origin Image Status
20-foot motor boat 2 pre-2011 Domestic In service
Defender-class 4 2017 Italy In service
3 2018 Sweden In service

Weapons

  • Somaliland Coast Guard
    Somaliland Coast Guard
  • Somaliland Coast Guard in Independence Day Parade
    Somaliland Coast Guard in Independence Day Parade

See also

References

  1. ^ "Delegation led by New UK Defence Attachee and UK programme manager with Head of UK mission in Somaliland visited Berbera command sector Of Somaliland Coastguard". Somaliland Coast Guard. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Somaliland Coast Guard ready to Exercise its Powers across Territorial Waters". EUCAP. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Wasiirka Arrimaha Gudaha oo Tababar u soo Xidhay Saraakiil ka Tirsan Ciidanka Xeebaha". Wargeyska Dawan (in Somali). 11 March 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Taliyaha Ciidanka Illaalada Xeebaha oo Gaadhay Magaalada Saylac". Wargeyska Dawan (in Somali). 14 October 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Xuska Sannad Guurada Ciidamada Ilaalada Xeebaha lagu Qabtay Berbera". Wargeyska Dawan (in Somali). 2 October 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  6. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024-02-13). The Military Balance 2024. Taylor & Francis. pp. 516–517. ISBN 978-1-032-78004-7.
  7. ^ Pei-ju, Teng (24 July 2025). "Taiwan, Somaliland sign coast guard cooperation deal". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Despite meager resources, coast guard defend Somaliland from pirates". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  9. ^ Martin, Guy (2018-12-04). "Somaliland Coast Guard receives boats, equipment". defenceWeb. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somaliland_Coast_Guard