North Western State of Somalia Police Urge Calm After Deadly Borama Protests Over Xeer Ciise Book Launch

Two killed as Borama protests over Xeer Ciise commemoration turn deadly

North Western State of Somalia police urge calm after Saylac book event triggers unrest; accusations of excessive force mount

BORAMA, North Western State of Somalia — Two young men were killed and several others injured as protests over a planned commemoration of the Xeer Ciise book in Saylac escalated in Borama from late Thursday into Friday, prompting a heightened security deployment and appeals for calm from authorities.

The Xeer Ciise refers to the oral customary laws observed by Somali-Issa communities across Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. UNESCO has officially recognized Xeer Ciise, and the planned event in Saylac was intended to mark and promote that heritage. Instead, the announcement stirred anger in Awdal region, where demonstrators gathered in Borama to object to the commemoration. By Friday morning, tensions remained high as sporadic protests flared and security forces patrolled markets and key intersections.

North Western State of Somalia Police Chief Abdirahman Abdillaahi Hassan (Abdi Dheere) urged residents to stop damaging property and allow authorities to restore order. “To the agitated public protesting in Boorama since last night, I say: do not burn our city. The beautiful laws of Boorama are being set ablaze. People can protest and express objections, but burning property is not acceptable,” he said Friday, warning that security forces would no longer tolerate acts of violence.

Abdi Dheere accused some groups of exploiting the unrest to loot both public and private property, including a reported attack on the Central Bank’s local headquarters. He directed police to maintain composure while securing the city and called on the community to return to dialogue.

Community figures said they had already sought political channels to defuse the standoff. Suldaan Dhawal, a prominent cleric in Awdal, said Friday that local leaders recently met with the President of North Western State of Somalia, Abdirahman Mohamed AbdillahiCirro, to convey their objections to the book launch. He said they planned to brief the media on Saturday but argued the government acted “in haste.”

On Friday, demonstrators in parts of Borama carried the flag associated with the Awdal State movement and chanted “Awdal State,” underscoring how the debate over Xeer Ciise has intersected with regional identity and political grievances. The bodies of those killed and the injured were taken to Borama Hospital, according to local accounts.

The government faced growing accusations of using excessive force against unarmed protesters. Officials had not announced a formal path to ease tensions by Friday afternoon, beyond the police chief’s appeal for restraint and assurances that officers would safeguard lives and property.

While details of the planned Saylac commemoration remained limited, the recognition of Xeer Ciise by UNESCO has elevated the profile of Issa customary law within the region and beyond, energizing cultural advocates but also stirring sensitivities around representation and regional autonomy. In Borama, those sensitivities have proved volatile, with a local debate about heritage, voice and authority quickly spilling into the streets.

As night approached Friday, the city’s immediate future hinged on whether community leaders and authorities could reopen lines of communication and prevent further bloodshed. Police promised to keep a visible presence near markets, government buildings and other key locations. Community leaders, meanwhile, signaled they would proceed with a planned media briefing on Saturday to clarify their position and urge a nonviolent resolution.

For now, Borama remained on edge—caught between a cultural celebration planned for Saylac and a deadly backlash that has turned a debate over tradition into a test of public order.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.