More than 150 homes belonging to Ethiopian nationals, mostly from the Oromo community, have been burned or destroyed in two days of violence in Borama. Police say suspects have been arrested.
BORAMA (Somali Report) — More than 150 homes belonging to Ethiopian nationals, many of them from the Oromo ethnic group, have been burned or destroyed in two days of violence in the Somaliland city of Borama, residents said, as police reported arrests over the attacks.
The violence has caused extensive property damage but no reported deaths, according to local residents and officials. The attacks reportedly intensified following recent clashes in the Ethiopian border town of Moyale.
Members of the Oromo community living in Borama said groups of young men and women had organised to target Ethiopian residents and their properties.
“Young men and women mobilised and targeted Ethiopians, particularly people from the Oromo community, even though we had done nothing wrong,” one resident said.
The head of police in the Awdal region, Abdi Khayre Dugsiiye Araweello, said security forces had arrested several people suspected of involvement in the violence, while others remained at large.
Speaking at a press conference late on Tuesday, Araweello described the attacks as a serious incident that had caused substantial damage to the homes and shelters of foreign nationals from a neighbouring country.
He said the violence had continued from the previous afternoon, adding that police had worked with regional and municipal authorities to contain the situation.
The police chief said the Ethiopian residents had been protected and that no casualties had been reported among them, despite the destruction of their homes. He warned that anyone found responsible for the attacks would face legal action.
Borama Mayor Mahmoud Sheikh Ibrahim apologised to the affected Ethiopian residents, describing the attacks as unacceptable and contrary to the values and traditions of the local community.
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“We are deeply sorry about what happened in the city. We apologise to our brothers who were subjected to these cruel acts, which are not part of Borama's culture and are unfamiliar to us,” he said.
The mayor also urged young people not to be misled by misinformation circulating on social media, which he said had contributed to tensions.
He rejected claims circulating online that Oromo residents would be deported, saying Somaliland respected human rights and that any action involving the removal of foreign nationals would have to follow established legal procedures.
Mahmoud stressed that the attacks were not a government operation, blaming individuals he said were seeking to undermine security, damage the city's reputation and create tensions between Somaliland and neighbouring countries.
He confirmed that some suspects had been detained, while security forces were pursuing others.
The incidents have raised concerns over the safety of Ethiopian nationals living in Borama, a major urban centre in Somaliland's Awdal region, near the Ethiopian border.
The reported attacks also highlight the risk that tensions and clashes in border areas can spill across communities and affect civilians who have no direct involvement in political or security disputes.
Authorities have not provided a detailed breakdown of the damage or the number of people displaced by the destruction. The reported figure of more than 150 affected homes could not be independently verified.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
