Awdal Elders Restore Police Control in Borama After Days of Deadly Unrest

BORAMA, North Western State of Somalia — Traditional leaders in North Western State of Somalia’s Awdal region said Tuesday they have handed security responsibilities in Borama back to the police, moving to restore order after days of unrest that left at least 20 people dead and more wounded.

The elders announced the decision after a closed-door meeting in the regional capital, reversing an earlier directive that had ordered all security forces — including police and army units — to withdraw from the city amid escalating tensions. The protests, driven largely by angry youth, erupted over the planned launch of the Xeer Ciise book in Zeylac and competing claims over the coastal town’s ownership.

“We know that earlier we ordered all troops to leave the city without exception, including the police and the military. That order was implemented,” Sultan Dhawal told reporters after the meeting. “Today, we are now instructing them to return to their stations and safeguard the city. There is no one preventing them.”

The leaders framed the move as a necessary step to stabilize Borama, urging residents to cooperate with law enforcement as patrols and checkpoints resume. They said elements within the protests had crossed into criminality, including extorting money from residents, and warned that any further abuses would be addressed by the proper authorities.

“We say to the youth: work with the security forces. Our interests, our progress, and our safety depend on it,” one elder said, calling for calm and an end to confrontations that have disrupted daily life and strained local services.

Calls for security forces to withdraw had intensified earlier in the week after clashes between troops and protesters turned deadly. At least 20 people were killed and more than that number wounded when security forces opened fire on crowds, according to local leaders. The toll underscores the volatility surrounding the Xeer Ciise book launch, which has tapped into deeper grievances over history, identity and territorial claims in Zeylac.

The elders said they are pairing the security reset with outreach to defuse tensions on multiple fronts. They instructed disgruntled military personnel to return to their units and urged armed groups operating on Borama’s periphery to come forward for talks. “Dialogue is open,” one elder said, adding that keeping weapons off the streets is essential to preventing further bloodshed.

Regional mediation efforts are also gathering pace. A delegation of elders from Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, led by Garaad Kulmiye Garaad Mohamed Garaad Dool Garaad Wiilwaal, arrived in North Western State of Somalia to help broker discussions between clans in Awdal over disputes linked to the Xeer Ciise launch and the contested status of Zeylac. Their involvement highlights concern that the dispute could widen if left unresolved and underscores the interconnected dynamics across the border.

Residents said the priority now is a credible pathway back to normalcy: reopening businesses without fear, ensuring safe movement in and out of neighborhoods and clarifying the roles of police and military to avoid overlapping authority. The elders’ decision places the police at the forefront of security in Borama while leaving space for continued political and community dialogue around the contentious issues that sparked the protests.

While no timeline was given for a formal investigation into the killings, local leaders indicated that restoring trust between security forces and the community will depend on restraint, accountability and a commitment to keep protests peaceful and policing proportionate. The elders stressed that any gatherings should be coordinated with authorities and that intimidation, property damage and extortion will not be tolerated.

By late Tuesday, community figures said they were working with police commanders on a phased resumption of regular policing, including reassigning officers to their stations and reopening formal complaint channels for residents who suffered losses during the unrest.

The elders’ message was twofold: stabilize Borama immediately by reestablishing clear security oversight, and tackle the underlying dispute through dialogue that reflects the region’s complex history and the community’s desire for a durable peace.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.