At least one person has been killed and another wounded today in the Sheikh District of the Sahil region in Somaliland, according to reports from locals and witnesses. The demonstration was sparked by the illegal detention of traditional elder Sultan Qabille, who is being held in the maximum security prison in Mandera. Angry protesters took to the streets in Sheikh to demand his release. A confrontation between Somaliland security forces and the protesters ensued. Locals reported that a woman named Anab Omar Jama was killed and another person was injured in the clashes. One protester accused the security forces of using live bullets and targeting civilian protesters. Gulied Dafac, an advocate for police reform, called for an independent investigation into the incident and emphasized the need for proportionate use of force by the police. The Somaliland government has not yet addressed the incident or the allegations against the security forces. The current health status of the injured person is unknown. This incident in Sheikh has reignited the debate about the handling of protests by the Somaliland police. In recent years, there have been multiple incidents of police using excessive force during protests, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 people in Borama in 2025 and at least seven people in protests organized by opposition parties in 2023. These incidents have drawn criticism from civil society organizations and human rights advocates, who have called for reforms in the management of protests. The current government promised during their campaign and upon taking office to strengthen the protection of civil rights and reduce the use of force in handling protests. However, the repeated incidents of deaths and injuries raise questions about the implementation of these promises and whether there has been a significant change in the behavior of the security forces.
