ayn (,  ) also spelled as cayn, is a region in northern somalia centered on the city of buuhoodle. it was a province created by puntland in 2009. it was one of the 7 regions of puntland. then in 2012 it was reclaimed by khatumo state, an attempted federal state for reer darawiish. as of the 2020s, ayn is an independent administration ruled by reer darawiish locals and ssc militias.