The Government of the Republic of Somaliland has announced that it has officially permitted the holding of the Ciise Xeer (traditional law/custom) festival, an event that had previously caused intense tension in the Awdal and Selel regions.
The Minister of Information of Somaliland, Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayaanle, announced during a press conference held in Hargeysa that the government has approved the festival.
“The government has officially decided that the Republic of Somaliland will host the celebration commemorating the Ciise Xeer, which will take place in the city of Zeila on 14 December 2025,” Minister Ahmed Yasin said.
The minister stated that the Somaliland government has taken full responsibility for the security of the Ciise Xeer festival, at a time when the Awdal communities had previously strongly opposed the event, which had been postponed several times.
“The Government of Somaliland assumes responsibility for directing, managing, facilitating, overseeing the preparations and organization of the event, and ensuring security, while upholding the country’s laws, security procedures, social equality of society, and the national sovereignty of the Republic of Somaliland,” the minister said.
He also revealed that the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Irro, has extended a broad gesture of peace to the brotherly communities living in the Awdal and Selel regions, particularly the clans that cohabit in the Selel district.
Somaliland has categorically rejected the possibility of establishing tribal boundaries within its territory and has stated that it will not accept any clan-based borders being created inside Somaliland.
This decision comes at a time when, in recent months, the city of Zeila and the Awdal and Selel regions in general have experienced tension stemming from the planned holding of the Ciise Xeer festival, which had faced strong opposition from the communities of the Awdal region.