Somaliland president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro has cancelled a major cultural event linked to traditional Somali-Issa customary law following two days of deadly riots in Borama that left several people dead and dozens injured.
Clashes erupt in Awdal region
Violence broke out on Thursday night in Borama, the main commercial hub of Awdal region, after residents protested against government plans to host the launch of a book on Xeer Ciise in the coastal town of Zeyla on 14 December.
Security forces confronted demonstrators, leading to heavy gunfire that continued into Friday. Hospital sources and witnesses said at least seven civilians died, though the exact toll remains unconfirmed. Dozens more sustained gunshot wounds.
What is Xeer Ciise?
Xeer Ciise is a centuries-old oral customary law recognised by UNESCO and practised by Somali-Issa communities across Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia. It relies on mediation by elders to resolve disputes ranging from blood compensation to grazing rights.
Local leaders in Borama, however, insist the unrest was triggered by deeper issues. Many residents fear the choice of Zeyla as venue could reopen old clan boundary disputes and strengthen rival claims over pasture land stretching toward the coast.
“This has nothing to do with culture. It is about protecting ancestral land,” a Borama politician told journalists on condition of anonymity.
President orders cancellation
President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro appeared on national television Friday evening to announce the immediate cancellation of the Zeyla gathering.
“I have ordered National Armed Forces in Borama to return at once to their barracks,” the president said. He promised a full independent investigation, adding that findings would be handled “with the full rigor of the law in a spirit of transparency, justice and accountability”.
Traditional elders from Awdal region welcomed the decision and appealed for calm. Police warned that officers would deal firmly with any further looting or destruction of property.
Mogadishu and Hargeisa trade accusations
Somalia federal government issued a statement expressing sorrow over the loss of life and urging Somaliland authorities to respect the wishes of local communities.
Hargeisa hit back within hours, accusing Mogadishu of continued interference aimed at inflaming tensions and spreading misinformation among clans.
The exchange underlined persistent friction between the internationally unrecognised republic and the federal authorities in the south.
Early test for new administration
The Borama violence marks one of the deadliest incidents in Awdal region in recent years and poses an early challenge for President Irro, who took office only five months ago after narrowly defeating long-serving leader Muse Bihi Abdi.
As an uneasy calm returned to Borama streets on Saturday, residents expressed hope that the promised investigation would finally tackle underlying clan grievances before they spark fresh bloodshed.
