HARGEISA (Somaliguardian) – Calm has returned to the town of Borama in Somaliland’s Awdal region after days of deadly protests that left nearly two dozen people dead. The unrest had been fuelled by local grievances and inflamed by suspicions over a planned customary law ceremony, while authorities have alleged that “a third hand” helped aggravate the violence.
On Sunday, footage aired by Somaliland’s state media showed residents clearing streets of stones, roadblocks and burnt tyres that protesters had used to obstruct security forces. The easing of tensions followed appeals by regional clan elders, who urged demonstrators to stand down to prevent further bloodshed.
President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, widely known as Irro, promised that those responsible for the killings would be investigated and held to account. He also suspended a planned ceremony in Sayla’, where the launch of Xeer Ciise, a customary law book, had been scheduled. Some residents in Borama saw aspects of the book as an attempt to assert claims over their land – an interpretation that helped trigger the protests.
Seeking to reassure communities, President Irro stressed that no one’s land could be taken by mere claims and urged clans in the region to preserve peaceful coexistence.
Despite the return to order, anger remains. Local residents and witnesses have accused security forces of using excessive and “avoidable” force, including firing at protesters at close range and even targeting people inside hospitals. These claims could not be independently verified.
Local officials say at least 20 people have been killed, with dozens more injured.
In an unexpected statement, the Somaliland military alleged that an unidentified third party had intervened in the unrest, claiming that snipers had been positioned on high-rise buildings to fire at civilians. Critics dismissed the claims as an attempt to deflect responsibility from security forces, whom they accuse of causing the bloodshed through disproportionate force.
As Borama begins to return to normality, residents say they are hoping for a transparent investigation – one that provides accountability, eases clan tensions and prevents a repeat of the violence that shook the town.
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