Hargeisa One person was killed and another injured Thursday during a protest in Sheikh district in Somaliland’s Sahil region, residents and witnesses said.
The protest began following the recent arrest of Sultan Qabile in Mandera district. Residents reported that an angry crowd gathered in Sheikh before violence erupted between demonstrators and security forces.
The deceased woman was identified by residents as Anab Omar Jama. The condition of the injured individual remained unknown at the time.
One protester alleged that security forces deployed live ammunition against demonstrators, claiming civilians were specifically targeted during the unrest.
Somaliland authorities have not issued any statement regarding the incident or responded to accusations regarding the use of excessive force by security personnel.
Lawyer Guleed Dafac, a police reform advocate, demanded an independent investigation. He emphasized that police force must be proportional to the threat faced by officers as prescribed by law.
The fatality has intensified discussions about how Somaliland police manage protests and public assemblies. Security forces have consistently faced accusations from civil society organizations and human rights advocates regarding excessive force during demonstrations.
In 2025, at least 19 individuals lost their lives during protests in Borama. In 2023, a minimum of seven people died during opposition-organized demonstrations.
These previous incidents have generated demands for reforms in crowd management, accountability measures, and police behavior during public gatherings.
Somaliland’s current administration promised during the electoral campaign and after assuming office to enhance civil rights protections and minimize the use of force when addressing demonstrations.
However, recurring fatalities and injuries during protests have cast doubt on whether these commitments have resulted in substantial changes in the conduct of security forces.