The protest was against reports that the Somaliland government would release prisoners captured in the Lascaanod war, which the people of Burco strongly rejected.
The protesters said that the prisoners from SSC-Khaatumo should not be released, but rather that the Somaliland prisoners in the Lascaanood prison should be released first.
Angry residents who destroyed government vehicles blocked the main roads of Somaliland’s second largest city, while police opened fire, injuring a number of civilians.
The Somaliland authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the news that prisoners are being released, although the news has been widely circulated on social media.
Somaliland has previously released 11 prisoners from Puntland who were captured during the Lascaanod fighting, while Puntland, an ally of SSC-Khaatumo, has released 16 Somaliland soldiers captured during the fighting, after the two administrations established direct contact.
However, the majority of prisoners from Somaliland are in Lascaanod prison, and direct dialogue between Somaliland and SSC-Khaatumo has yet to be achieved.
The SSC Khaatumo administration released 25 people from Somaliland last month following the Federal Prime Minister’s visit to Lascaanood.
However, the biggest obstacle to the prisoner release issue has been the Somaliland administration’s refusal to engage in direct negotiations with SSC-Khaatumo.
