Nineteen Civilians Were Killed and over 200 injured in Borama Protests- Governor

GOOBJOOG NEWS|AWDAL: At least 19 civilians were killed and 214 others injured during violent protests earlier this month in the Somaliland city of Borama, the governor of Awdal region, Abdirashid Hassan Mataan, said on Wednesday.

The unrest erupted after demonstrations broke out over the planned launch of a book on Xeer Ciise, a customary legal code associated with the Issa clan, scheduled to be celebrated in the nearby coastal town of Zeylac. Many residents in Borama viewed the event and the government’s decision to allow it as a political and cultural provocation, deepening long-standing local grievances and prompting clashes with security forces.

Governor Mataan said 20 of the injured remain under treatment in local hospitals, while critically wounded patients have been transferred abroad for specialised care. Of those killed, 18 were men and one was a woman, he added.

He clarified that the casualty figures reported do not include any security personnel who may have been injured during the unrest, and said authorities will provide further details once all information has been compiled.

The violent clashes drew sharp criticism from residents, civil society groups and national leaders, with calls for transparent investigations into the use of force by security forces and accountability for the deaths.

In response to the crisis, traditional elders in Awdal reportedly intervened to de-escalate tensions, ordering security forces to pull back from parts of the city before later facilitating a return of policing to stabilise daily life.

The protests have highlighted deeper political fault lines in Somaliland, including disputes over representation, cultural identity and governance, as well as local dissatisfaction with central authorities.

Community leaders and activists continue to demand independent inquiry into the incident, medical support for those wounded, and steps to prevent a recurrence of violence in the region.