Authorities report arrests as burned homes and displaced families raise concerns over civilian protection and ethnic intimidation.
Somaliland’s government has pledged legal action against those responsible for attacks on Ethiopian residents in Borama, following reports of homes being burned and looted and families seeking safety away from their neighbourhoods.
Information Minister Barkhad Jama Batuun condemned the targeting of foreign nationals, particularly members of the Oromo community, saying individuals and groups had no authority to intimidate residents, destroy their property or force them to leave. He said the government would investigate and hold those involved accountable.
The minister’s intervention places the protection of foreign residents firmly within Somaliland’s institutions. He stressed that decisions on immigration and residency belong to the authorities and must follow established procedures.
His remarks followed statements by Awdal’s regional leadership acknowledging the violence and announcing arrests. Governor Hassan Daahir Hadi condemned the attacks and said security forces were pursuing additional suspects. He urged residents to cooperate with the authorities to prevent further unrest.
For those affected, the immediate concern is losing shelter and uncertainty about whether they can return safely. Ethiopian residents told BBC Somali that more than 150 homes had been destroyed or looted over two days. That figure remains a community estimate rather than an independently verified damage assessment. Some residents sought refuge at Borama’s airport and other locations.
Borama Mayor Mahmoud Sheikh Ibrahim apologised to the affected residents and said the violence did not reflect the city’s traditions. He also warned young people against believing inflammatory material circulating on social media. Local elders and other public figures called for the protection of Oromo neighbours and rejected attempts to punish civilians for fighting elsewhere.
Reports linked the heightened tensions to recent fighting around Moyale in Ethiopia. Residents described hostility spilling into Borama despite their having no involvement in that conflict. The precise organisation of the attacks, however, remains unclear; assertions about outside instigators have not been independently established.
Accounts of physical harm also require careful distinction. Awdal’s police commander said residents’ lives had been protected despite extensive damage to their shelters. Separately, a resident interviewed by BBC Somali alleged sexual violence. The reporting records the mayor’s denial. These conflicting accounts do not establish a verified finding, and the allegations should not be presented as settled fact.
The number of people displaced and the full extent of the destruction remain uncertain. Authorities have reported arrests, but the sources reviewed do not confirm a total or any subsequent court proceedings.
The government’s pledge now faces a practical test: whether affected families can live safely, report losses without intimidation and see those responsible brought before the courts. Condemnation has established the official position. Protection, a credible investigation and accountability will determine what that position means for Borama’s residents.
