The Mandera Prison Assault was a pivotal military operation conducted by the Somali National Movement (SNM) on 2 January 1983 during the early stages of the Somaliland War of Independence.

Under the command of Colonel Mohamed Hashi Lihle, SNM commando units freed over 700 prisoners, though independent sources estimate that around a dozen prominent political detainees escaped.

[5][2] The operation, considered the SNM's first major military success, significantly boosted the morale of the resistance movement and highlighted the deteriorating grip of the Somali government in the northern regions.

[3][2] Lihle addressed the freed prisoners, offering them three options: The commandos simultaneously raided the Cadaadle armoury, acquiring a significant but unspecified quantity of arms and ammunition, which strengthened their military capacity.

[5] The raid also marked the emergence of military heroes like Colonel Mohamed Hashi Lihle and Captain Ibrahim Kodbur, who played central roles in subsequent battles.