BORAMA, Somaliland — A night of unrest in the Awdal region turned deadly on Thursday after protests erupted in Borama over the government’s handling of the controversial Xeer Ise book exhibition.
Witnesses say the demonstrations, which grew rapidly after nightfall, resulted in civilian casualties during clashes with security forces.
The tension began earlier in the day when the Somaliland government reversed itself on whether to allow the exhibition to proceed in the coastal city of Seylac.
Authorities had initially approved the event, later banned it, and then unexpectedly re-authorized it late Thursday evening.
The back-and-forth ignited widespread frustration among residents who viewed the government’s shifting positions as inconsistent and inflammatory.
Around 7 p.m. East Africa Time, crowds gathered in Borama’s main streets to voice their anger. What began as a demonstration quickly turned violent when protesters and police confronted each other.
According to Awdal Media, which cited staff at the Borama Health Branch, two people were killed and eleven others injured in the clashes.
Medical officials say the injured include both civilians and possibly individuals caught in the crossfire, though no official breakdown has been released. The full extent of the violence is still being assessed.
As of Thursday night, Somaliland’s security forces and government ministries had not issued any public statement acknowledging the casualties or explaining the security response.
The silence has fueled concerns among residents who fear the unrest could escalate if the underlying dispute is not addressed.
The controversy surrounding the Xeer Ise book — a customary law text linked to communities in the Selal region — has already heightened political and clan sensitivities.
Intellectuals, elders, and community leaders across Awdal and Selal are now urging calm, calling for immediate dialogue to prevent further bloodshed between the two closely related clans at the heart of the dispute.
Many warn that without swift and transparent intervention, the Borama violence could deepen grievances and destabilize an already fragile local environment.
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