The Somaliland Police have called on residents of Borama to exercise restraint following protests that left two youths dead and several others injured. The demonstrations, which began yesterday evening, were sparked by opposition to the celebration of the book “Heer Ise” in Saylac.
Police Commander Abdirahman Abdillahi Hassan, also known as Abdi Dheere, told the press that security forces are actively working to maintain order in the city. He warned against the destruction of public and private property during the demonstrations.
“People have the right to protest and voice their opinions, but burning property is unacceptable. The streets of Borama should not be set on fire,” Commander Abdi Dheere said.
He accused certain groups of exploiting the protests for personal gain, citing attacks on public and private assets, including the Central Bank branch. He emphasized that security forces would no longer tolerate such incidents and called on the public to engage in dialogue to address their grievances.
Suldaan Dhawal, a local traditional elder, said the region’s leaders recently met with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro). “While we do not support the book celebration, we intended to share our position with the media today. However, the government acted preemptively, escalating tensions,” he said.
As of this morning, Borama remains tense with sporadic protests. Security forces continue patrolling markets and major streets. Some demonstrators are waving the Awdal State flag and chanting slogans demanding regional autonomy.
The city hospital has received the bodies and injuries of those affected during clashes between police and protesters. Critics accuse the Somaliland government of using excessive force against unarmed demonstrators. No official resolution has yet been proposed to ease the tension in the city.
