North Western State of Somalia lawmaker alleges security forces intentionally shot civilians in Borama

North Western State of Somalia MP accuses security forces of shooting civilians as Borama unrest leaves at least 10 dead

At least 10 people were reported killed over two days of unrest in Borama, the capital of North Western State of Somalia’s Awdal region, as a lawmaker accused national security forces of deliberately shooting unarmed civilians and President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro ordered troops to return to their bases.

• MP Mohamed Abiib Yusuf says civilians were shot amid clashes in Borama
• President Irro condemns bloodshed, orders military pullback and urges calm
• Unrest tied to tensions over a commemoration of Xeer Ciise, recognized by UNESCO

Speaking to journalists in Hargeisa on Friday, North Western State of Somalia House of Representatives member Mohamed Abiib Yusuf said the government’s response had inflamed, rather than eased, tensions in Awdal, where protests and security operations have escalated since Thursday.

Abiib alleged that forces deployed “to suppress the people” used live fire against unarmed residents. “Instead of bringing the clans together and establishing peace, the government’s actions triggered further conflict, and when that failed, civilians began to be killed,” he said. He urged residents of Borama to remain calm and appealed to religious leaders to help defuse the situation, adding that parliament would reach an urgent decision on the crisis in the coming hours.

In a separate statement Friday, President Irro condemned the violence that has left at least 10 people dead in Borama over the past two days and called for immediate steps to restore order. He ordered all national military forces deployed in the town to return to their bases and urged North Western State of Somalia’s business community, clerics and scholars to unite behind efforts to end the bloodshed and prevent further escalation in Awdal.

“In the past few hours, our country has gone through painful moments,” the president said. “There have been losses that have delighted those who wish for North Western State of Somalia’s collapse, and shocked everyone who values the sanctity of life.”

The unrest followed the government’s decision to allow the commemoration of Xeer Ciise, an oral customary law system practiced by Somali-Issa communities in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia and recognized by UNESCO. The announcement triggered public anger in Borama, where local tensions over the planned launch of a book on Xeer Ciise had already exposed a rift between community groups, according to Abiib.

He said authorities should have prioritized reconciling the two local clans at odds over the commemoration, warning that the heavy security deployment sent the wrong signal and contributed to confrontation between residents and security forces. Clashes intensified after the announcement, witnesses said, culminating in the deadly confrontations reported Thursday and Friday.

The president’s pullback order appeared aimed at lowering the temperature in the town while civilian leaders, clerics and elders try to mediate. Irro’s call echoed appeals from lawmakers and community figures for restraint and dialogue amid growing concern that further violence could widen the conflict and deepen grievances in the region.

As of Friday evening, details about the number of injured, arrests and the precise sequence of events leading to the fatalities remained unclear. Authorities did not immediately announce an official toll. Lawmakers said parliament would convene urgently to address the crisis, with community leaders urging residents to avoid gatherings that could spark new clashes.

The situation in Borama remained tense but fluid late Friday, with appeals for calm underscoring the competing pressures on the government to maintain order while allowing space for community-led reconciliation efforts around the Xeer Ciise commemoration.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.