It is primarily inhabited by the three sub-clans of the Gadabursi clan, whose traditional institutions survived the colonial period, Somali statehood and the war in good shape, remaining functionally intact and highly relevant to public security.

The Gabadulsi clan did not necessarily want this, but they cooperated with Somaliland's independence, based on their desire for peace and the fact that the SNM was superior militarily.

[29] However, it was not approved by the Somaliland parliament, and was reconfirmed that Zeila is in the Awdal region with the implementation of the “Local Government Act of 2019” in January 2020.

[32] In June 2012, Rashid Hersi, who lives in Barrhaven, Ottawa, Canada, announced that Awdal had become independent and that he had been appointed president.

[33] In February 2013, Suldaan Ibraahim Jaamac Samatar, one of the traditional leaders of Awdal, criticized Mohamed Nour Arrale, the Minister of the Interior of Somaliland, for interfering in the election of the Zeila Regional Council and worsening public security.

[34] In April 2013, Awdal Governor criticized the large number of young people emigrating from Somaliland to other countries, and mentioned the need for restrictions.

[37] On December 5th 2014, the Jibriil Yoonis clan leader Suldaan Abuubakar Wabar led an army into the mountains and declared independence from the Somaliland government.

[40] On March 18th 2015, intellectuals, businessmen, and politicians gathered at the home of Suldaan Wabar and announced that they would liberate the Awdal region from Somaliland and join the Federal Republic of Somalia.

[44] In October 2015, both Ethiopia and Somaliland began operations to withdraw the militias that follow Sultan Abikar Waberi, who is based near the border.

[47] On December 27, 2016, there was information that Suldaan Abuubakar Wabar, the chief of the Jibriil Yoonis clan, had entered the base of the Ethiopian rebels, and the Somaliland military went on high alert in Borama.

[49] In May 2018, Cyclone Sagar hit Awdal, making it difficult to provide support to rural areas due to the flooding.

As a result, one of the commanders of the Somaliland military visited Borama in Awdal and held a countermeasures meeting with the local government and traditional elders.

[53] In December 2019, Sultan Mohamed Abshir Du'ale, one of the traditional leaders of the Awdal region, was arrested by the Somaliland government.

[54] On August 19, 2020, Sultan Abdirahman Dhawal, one of the traditional leaders of the Gadabuursi clan, argued that the Awdal allocation of the 82 Somaliland House of Representatives members should be increased from the current level (13 seats, 16%) to 40%.

[55] On August 27th 2020, Ughaz Abdirashiid Ugaas Rooble, the Gadabuursi clan chief and a critic of the Awdal policy in Somaliland, set out from Ethiopia to Boroma by land, but was prevented from doing so by the Somaliland army[56] On the same day, a violent demonstration broke out in Borama, and according to one account, several hundred young people took part.