Borama, Somaliland – At least ten people have been killed and more than 30 wounded after violent protests erupted in the western Somaliland town of Borama on Thursday night and continued into Friday.
Security forces opened fire with live ammunition as demonstrators clashed with troops in the busy commercial centre, transforming the usually crowded town into an eerie, deserted landscape. Videos shared on social media showed ambulances weaving through burning barricades, as well as residents carrying injured people by hand amid the sound of gunfire.
Military units were deployed overnight in an attempt to quell the unrest, but confrontations persisted into Friday afternoon. Protesters hurled stones at soldiers, who responded with further live fire.
Somaliland’s security authorities said they would not tolerate “violence and chaos” and vowed to restore order.
However, clan elders and MPs from the Awdal region condemned what they described as the excessive use of force against civilians. They warned that unless President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro withdrew military forces from the town “within hours”, they would urge residents to take up arms and defend themselves.
Tensions in Awdal have been simmering for years, particularly after Somaliland’s loss of control over parts of the Sool region, including the town of Las Anod, to local clan militias. Analysts say Awdal – long perceived as another peripheral region – now appears to be following a similar trajectory, with resentment deepening over the government’s security response.
Following the clashes, videos circulated online showing residents declaring they no longer recognised Somaliland’s authority and instead identifying themselves as part of “Awdal State” – a political entity announced by diaspora activists and backed by Somalia’s federal government. Despite its claims, the group has no operational presence in the region.
The Somaliland government has not yet commented on the latest threats from Awdal’s political and clan leaders. The situation in Borama remains tense.
