Somaliland police on Friday urged residents of Borama to remain calm after a night of violent unrest over the planned launch of the Xeer Ciise book in Saylac, a dispute that has now left two young men dead and at least eleven others injured.
The protests, which began Thursday evening, have escalated into one of the most serious security crises to hit the Awdal region in recent years.
Xeer Ciise refers to a set of oral customary laws practiced by Somali-Issa communities in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia, and was recently recognized by UNESCO.
The announcement that the book would be exhibited in Saylac—first permitted, then banned, then abruptly allowed again—triggered anger across Borama, where residents accused the government of mishandling the issue and ignoring local sensitivities.
Speaking to reporters, Somaliland Police Chief Abdirahman Abdullahi Hassan, known as Abdi Dheere, appealed for restraint and warned residents against further destruction of property.
“To the agitated public protesting in Borama since last night, I say: do not burn our city,” he said. “The beautiful laws of Borama are being set ablaze. People can protest and express objections, but burning property is not acceptable.”
He said security forces had moved to stabilize the city and would no longer tolerate violence, accusing opportunistic groups of exploiting the unrest to loot public and private buildings.
Among the locations targeted was the Central Bank’s local headquarters, which police say came under attack during the overnight chaos.
Community leaders confirmed that tensions had been building well before the protests erupted. Suldaan Dhawal, a prominent cleric in Awdal, said elders had met President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro earlier in the week to share their objections to the book exhibition.
He said the elders had planned to brief the public on Saturday but accused the government of acting “in haste,” inadvertently inflaming local frustration.
By Friday morning, Borama remained tense. Security forces patrolled major streets and markets as sporadic protests continued. Some demonstrators waved the flag associated with the Awdal State movement and chanted separatist slogans, underscoring the deeper political anxieties fueling the conflict.
The bodies of the two men killed in the clashes, as well as the injured, were taken to Borama Hospital. Human rights advocates and community members have accused the government of excessive force against unarmed demonstrators.
Officials have not addressed those allegations and have yet to announce any formal plan to de-escalate the crisis.
For now, Borama remains on edge, waiting for the government, elders, and security officials to find a path toward dialogue before the unrest deepens further.
Two Killed, Eleven Injured in Borama Clashes Over Xeer Ise Decision
