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Hiiraan Online
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Violent riots have erupted in Awadal region of Somaliland after people were kidnapped and killed in the area between Borama and Gibiley cities. The riots mostly took place in the city of Boorama which is the capital of Awdal region.
According to reports, the four people were killed following a land dispute between two rival clans in the area. The land dispute has been going on for a while. The Upper Chamber of Somaliland government has been involved in resolving the dispute and has recommended measures to resolve the dispute. The Chamber recommended that the disputed land be made a military zone where civilians are forbidden to carry arms. The chamber’s recommendations, however, have yet not been implemented.
The rioters gathered in the centre of the city of Boorame after the burial of the four people killed. The rioters were addressed by elders and community leaders of the city who condemned the killing of the four people as unjust and regrettable and asked the people of Awdal not to respond to the killings with violence and revenge which, they said, can lead to further instability and bloodshed.
Some of the rioters were carrying the flag of (united) Somalia and not Somaliland. Somaliland declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 but has not yet been recognized by the international community. The significance of this is that people who predominantly live in Awdal region belong to the Gadubursi clan many of whom oppose the break up of Somalia while the dominant clan in large parts of Somaliland is the Isaaq. Large numbers of the Isaaq clan members, although not all support the decision to separate from Somalia.