HARGEISA (Kaab TV) – The number of people killed during Thursday’s violent protests in the city of Burao has risen to at least six, most of them young people.
Sources from Burao General Hospital and local residents confirmed that the six deceased were among the youth who took part in the demonstrations and clashed with police forces.
Police reportedly used live ammunition against the protesters, who had confronted security forces during the unrest.
At least 18 people were injured in the violence, including both police officers and demonstrators.
Somaliland President Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro acknowledged the injuries in a press conference held in Hargeisa on Friday, stating:
“Many people, including civilians, police, and national forces, were injured. We share in the grief of the people affected by the events in Burao.”
He said “two were killed”.
The president described the unrest as a result of “false information” that had been spread on social media and urged the public to be cautious about unverified reports.
“To the people of Burao, I say: the public was misled by fake news. We hope such incidents never happen again,” he added.
The Togdheer Regional Administration announced that the situation in Burao has since stabilized and that the president had ordered the release of hundreds of people detained during Thursday’s protests.
President Irro also dispatched a ministerial delegation to Burao, led by the Minister of Interior, to assess the situation and help calm tensions.
The government has also initiated talks with traditional elders as part of its de-escalation efforts.
Meanwhile, political figures have accused the Somaliland government of using excessive force against civilians. Among them is former President Muse Bihi Abdi, who called on the government to refrain from using force against the people.
Background to the Burao Protest
The unrest began on Thursday after rumors spread that the Somaliland government was planning to release prisoners from SSC-Khaatumo held in Burao. The government quickly denied these claims.
The prisoners in question were reportedly captured during the 2023 Laascaanood conflict. Last month, Somaliland and SSC-Khaatumo had conducted a limited prisoner exchange.
However, local anger flared as many believed the release of Somaliland General Faisal Abdi Botan—currently detained by SSC-Khaatumo forces in Las Anod—should take precedence.
General Botan was captured during the August 2023 fighting in Laascaanood.
Following that battle, SSC-Khaatumo forces took control of Laascaanood, which has since become the administrative seat of the SSC-Khaatumo authority—a newly declared federal member state of Somalia that Somaliland does not recognize.
Burao, the capital of Togdheer region, was among the key cities where President Abdirahman Irro gained huge amount of vote during Somaliland’s presidential election held in November 2024.