Fighting in Borama

[Che -Guevara]

My buddy is telling me that there is effective fire fight inside the city neighborhoods as of tonight. Does anyone know what's happening? And how did things deteriorate so badly in 48 hours?

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

It began several weeks ago with the matter of the Jesus Book. The Jesus community had requested permission from the Somaliland government to hold a gathering at which they intended to present the Jesus Book of Law, known as Xeerka Ciisaha. The government declined the request at first, fully aware of how sensitive the issue was.

The Borama clan regards Zeila as their land and remains the majority in the town. The Jesus community, however, considers Zeila their ancestral homeland and wished to hold the gathering there.

In response, the Somaliland government dispatched a delegation to Zeila, led by the Minister of the Interior, Mr Sandhere, accompanied by several MPs and elders, to conduct a fact finding mission. Members of the Borama clan told the minister that if one were to ask fifty shopkeepers in Zeila for their view, all would oppose the event and identify themselves as belonging to the Borama clan rather than the Jesus clan. and that make came out

The delegation returned to Hargeisa and briefed the President, after which the government reaffirmed its decision not to authorise the gathering.

However, three days ago, following further discussions with the Jesus Ugaas mustafe , and with Geelle involved by telephone, assurances were given that the event would be peaceful, would last only three days, and that the Borama clan would be invited to participate. In what proved to be a grave misjudgment, the government subsequently announced that the Jesus community would indeed be permitted to hold the gathering in Zeila.

The following day violence broke out. Protests erupted in Borama; the army intervened and opened fire, leaving more than ten people dead and twenty two wounded.

This morning, the President of Somaliland addressed the nation. He cancelled the planned book gathering, ordered the army to withdraw to their barracks outside Borama leaving only the police within the town and pledged that the government would pay blood money for all casualties. He also dispatched elders to Hargeisa to meet their counterparts from the Borama community in pursuit of a peaceful resolution.

For now, calm appears to have returned.