Somalia has experienced increasingly severe and frequent droughts in recent times. The 2010-2011 drought resulted in a catastrophic famine that took approximately 256,000 lives. This was succeeded by another significant drought in 2016-2017, which forced millions into crisis and necessitated extensive humanitarian assistance. More recently, the 2021-2023 drought displaced over 1.4 million individuals and led to an estimated 43,000 fatalities. The repeated occurrence of such extreme events within brief periods highlights Somalia’s growing vulnerability to climate impacts.

Nomadic pastoralists, comprising more than 60 percent of Somalia’s population, have been especially affected. Droughts have diminished water and pasture supplies, compromised livestock vitality, and reduced household resilience. As these intensify, competition for limited resources has grown, exacerbating inter-clan tensions that occasionally erupt into violent confrontations. In 2024, inter-clan conflicts in Somalia displaced roughly 250,000 individuals. During July 2024, clashes between nomadic clans displaced over 26,000 people within just one week in Galdogob and Jariban districts of Mudug region.

Mudug region serves as a vital area for pastoral communities in Somalia. Regarding livelihood zones, the Adun and Hawd pastoral zones dominate most of Mudug, while the Deeh pastoral and fishing livelihood zone occupies a narrow coastal strip. The region’s poor soil quality, combined with low and inconsistent rainfall, makes livestock herding by nomadic and semi-nomadic communities a preferred livelihood approach.

This report investigates the challenges encountered by nomadic pastoralists due to severe and recurrent droughts in Somalia’s Mudug region and the adaptive strategies that have developed. It is based on 25 key informant interviews conducted between March and April 2025 with nomadic herders, clan elders, government representatives, humanitarian workers, and security specialists. To enhance the findings, interview data were supplemented by an analysis of secondary sources, including peer-reviewed articles, official government documents, policy briefs, and media reports. By examining both difficulties and adaptation responses, this report aims to provide evidence-based recommendations that enhance pastoral resilience and decrease displacement and conflict risks in drought-affected Somali regions.