The area was first settled in the 14th century by Somali herdsmen from the Warsangali subclan of the Darod clan, as there was water available for their flocks.

[citation needed] The entity was initially established by the Warsangali community in opposition to Puntland and Somaliland's contention over their inhabited territory.

[11] In January 2021, Puntland deployed troops to Badhan to prevent Somaliland's attempts to conduct voter registration in the city.

[2] Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril, the Speaker of House of Representatives of Puntland (Parliament) arrived in the city to oversee the operation.

[13] Mahmood reports: the Chief of Staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces, General Nuh Ismail Tani, surprisingly expressed relief.

[14]In January 2018, Gamal Mohamed Hassan, the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation visited badhan, as well the town of Dhahar in the Sanaag region along with Puntland officials.

[15] On the 31st of January 2023, Voter registration for Puntland Local Government Elections in Badhan, Sanaag region started.

All the polling places in Badhan District are the following: Intin, Horseed, Waaberi, Golis, Quudhloho, Kur ilaalo, Calmadow, Geeldoora, Higlo, Gumar, Rad, Laako, Midigale, Moqor, Caanobadan, Carawayn, Faracadey, Dal-lo'aad, Hadaaftimo, Haylaan, Dhanaha, Banadarsama, Jicaanyo, Xargadheere, Mindhicir, Qoryo guban, Caadsaaran, Ceel-magac leh, Qaarar, Ceelbuuh 1, Ceelbuuh 2 and Geed-larifay.

TPEC Mobile teams will work in the villages and rural areas inside the districts that have not been chosen for registration and voting.

[17] On March the 18th 2023, The complete preliminary list of registered voters in the Puntland areas and locations where registration has taken place was presented by TPEC.

17,784 of those registered voters in the 22 pre-planned polling stations and 16 remote places handled by TPEC's mobile teams came from the Badhan District.

[18][19] In 25 May 2023 registered voters of Badhan district made an election of one man one vote for the first time, and 33 local councils with 8 different parties compete.

[38]: 124 In November 2005, a drought occurred in Sanag and the price of a Toggle the table of contents barrel of water in Badhan district reached 4,500 shillings.

[38]: 130  The Maakhir state soon became dysfunctional, but Warsangali remained bicommunal with Somaliland and Puntland, and never received effective administrative control from either.

[68] In October 2021, Badhan elders condemned the Somaliland government's expulsion of displaced people from southwestern Somalia from Erigavo.

[69] In March 2022, the Vice President of Somaliland oversaw over $5000 donation from Tawakal Transporters handed over to drought relief to the village of Dhanaha near Badhan.