The Somaliland government has cancelled a planned event commemorating “Xeer Ise” in the port town of Zeylac, after rising tensions between local communities prompted fears of instability in the Selel region.
In a directive issued by the Ministry of Interior and Security, authorities ordered the Governor of Selel to prohibit all public meetings, gatherings, or rallies unless explicitly approved by the central government.
Officials warned that anyone attempting to convene an unauthorized assembly would face legal consequences.
The ministry said the decision was necessary to safeguard public order, citing mounting disputes surrounding the planned commemoration. “Any person or group that attempts to call or hold a meeting without the permission of the government will be subject to strict action in accordance with the law,” the statement read.
The conflict escalated earlier this month when residents in Zeylac objected to the event, arguing that the gathering was being organized without their consent and risked inflaming local tensions.
On October 2, a brief riot broke out in the town after one clan rejected the commemorative ceremony altogether, asserting that Zeylac “belongs to them” and that no such event could proceed without their approval.
Some community representatives accused the organizers of acting on political motives influenced by groups in Mogadishu.
In response, elders associated with the Xeer Ise initiative issued counter-allegations, claiming that Somaliland’s Vice President, Mohamed Ali Abdi, played a role in the unrest by allowing an influx of youths from Borama—described by local officials as tourists—to enter the town.
Those youths reportedly clashed with local residents. Other accounts included claims that young men from Ethiopia and Djibouti had also been brought in, aggravating an already fragile situation.
Police intervened to disperse groups from both sides during the clashes, restoring order later that day. Although the town has remained calm since, officials say the tensions underscore the need for precaution.
A senior government delegation led by the Minister of Interior traveled to Zeylac on Saturday to oversee the situation and reinforce the decision to halt the event.
The cancellation highlights the sensitivity of clan relations in the Selel region and the challenges authorities face in managing traditional, cultural, and political gatherings.
For now, the government maintains that no public event will be permitted in Zeylac or surrounding areas without formal authorization—an attempt to prevent local disputes from escalating into broader instability.
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