North Western State of Somalia President Cancels Xeer Ciise Book Launch After Deadly Borama Protests

Saturday December 6, 2025

Borama, North Western State of Somalia — North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro on Saturday canceled a planned Xeer Ciise book launch and commemoration set for December 14 in the port town of Saylac, after two days of deadly protests in Borama left at least 10 people dead in clashes between security forces and civilians.

Speaking to reporters in Hargeisa, Irro said he was honoring a request from traditional elders who arrived in Borama earlier Saturday and urged the government to scrap the event to calm tensions.

“As President, I am ready for anything that the blood of my people demands, anything that my nation agrees on, and anything that serves the interests of North Western State of Somalia,” Irro said. “In consideration of public interest and the feelings of my nation, I have canceled the Xeer Ciise commemoration event.”

The president directed security forces to tighten measures to prevent further bloodshed, emphasizing that protecting lives and preserving national unity remain paramount. He expressed confidence that Somalilanders would ultimately find consensus on the contentious issue at the heart of the unrest.

Irro endorsed a peace forum proposed by traditional elders for December 10 to address disputes between communities in the Salal and Awdal regions. He also ordered all national troops deployed in Borama to return to their bases, and appealed to business leaders, clerics and scholars to help restore stability in Awdal.

Vice President Abdi Ali Aw Abdi called for calm in Awdal following the cancellation and promised accountability for any misuse of weapons, including by members of the security forces. “I urge you, honorable citizens, to maintain peace and protect your city from any harm,” he said.

The situation in and around Borama remained tense. Traditional elders instructed residents to return home, but armed men positioned in the surrounding mountains stayed active. On Saturday morning, three soldiers assigned to protect the visiting elders were reportedly killed in an attack.

The protests erupted after the government authorized a commemoration of Xeer Ciise — the oral customary law of Somali-Issa communities in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia, and recognized by UNESCO. The announcement sparked anger among sections of the Borama community and led to violent confrontations with security forces.

MP Mohamed Abiib Yusuf of the North Western State of Somalia House of Representatives accused security forces of deliberately firing on unarmed civilians during the protests. Authorities have not publicly responded to his specific allegation. The government’s moves Saturday appeared aimed at de-escalation, with the cancellation of the Saylac event, the planned elders’ forum, and the drawdown of troops in Borama.

• At least 10 people were killed in clashes during two days of protests in Borama.
• President Irro canceled the December 14 Xeer Ciise commemoration and book launch in Saylac.
• A December 10 elders-led peace forum will seek to resolve differences in Salal and Awdal.
• Vice President Abdi Ali Aw Abdi urged calm and pledged accountability for any unlawful use of force.
• Three soldiers guarding visiting elders were reportedly killed Saturday morning near Borama.

The cancellation underscores the high political and communal sensitivities around Xeer Ciise — a body of customary law with deep cultural significance to Somali-Issa communities — and the challenge of balancing cultural recognition with local concerns. With elders now at the center of a proposed dialogue and the government signaling a security recalibration, the coming days will test whether Borama and the wider Awdal region can move from confrontation toward consensus.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.