Buur Dhaab has also historically acted as a junction for trade caravans coming from the east on their way to
Berbera port, The powerful
Habr Je'lo clan has historically acted as the guardians of this pass, receiving dues in exchange for guaranteed safety through Buur Dhaab:
Sheikh Bashir Rebellion Buur Dhaab was the base of
Sheikh Bashir during his 1945
rebellion against the British authorities in Somaliland. On the evening of 3 July Sheikh Bashir and his followers entered Burao and opened fire on the police guard of the central prison in the city, which was filled with prisoners arrested for previous demonstrations. The group also attacked the house of the district commissioner of
Burao District, Major Chambers, resulting in the death of Major Chamber's police guard before escaping to the range, where Sheikh Bashir's small unit occupied a fort and took up a defensive position in anticipation of a British counterattack. The British administration recruited
Indian and
South African troops, led by police general James David, to fight against Sheikh Bashir and had intelligence plans to capture him alive. The British authorities mobilized a police force, and eventually on 7 July found Sheikh Bashir and his unit in defensive positions behind their fortifications in the mountains of Bur Dhab. After clashes Sheikh Bashir and his second-in-command, Alin Yusuf Ali, nicknamed Qaybdiid, were killed. A third rebel was wounded and was captured along with two other rebels. The rest fled the fortifications and dispersed. On the British side the police general leading the British troops as well as a number of Indian and South African troops perished in the clashes, and a policeman was injured. After his death, Sheikh Bashir was widely hailed by locals as a martyr and was held in great reverence. His family took quick action to remove his body from the place of his death at Geela-eeg mountain, about 20 miles from
Burao.
War of Independence The Bur Dab range served as a base for the
Somali National Movement (SNM) during the
Somaliland War of Independence, and has been the site of hit-and-run attacks against the Somali National Army. A contingent led by former Somaliland Interior Minister
Mohamed Kahin Ahmed consisting of 130 soldiers assaulted regime positions in the range, inflicting heavy casualties. == Flaura and fauna ==