BORAMA, (HAN) – The envoy of the Somaliland administration to Djibouti, Abdifitah, was fatally shot on Tuesday night in the town of Borama, in a brazen attack that has sent shockwaves through the city and across the wider region.
Eyewitnesses said the envoy was ambushed by unidentified gunmen as he left a local residence.
Residents in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots before security forces rushed to the scene. The attackers fled immediately, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
Local authorities swiftly sealed off the crime scene and launched a full investigation. “We are treating this as a priority case,” said a Borama security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “No arrests have been made so far, but our forces are pursuing leads.”
The assassination has triggered widespread fear and concern in Borama, a key town in Somaliland’s Awdal region, which has historically been considered one of the more stable areas of the country.
The killing comes amid heightened security challenges across Somaliland, where political tensions and clan-related disputes have occasionally erupted into violence.
Political observers warn the attack could strain Somaliland’s relations with Djibouti, where Abdifitah had been serving as envoy. Djibouti has long played an important role in regional diplomacy and security cooperation, and this may raise questions about the safety of high-profile Somaliland officials at home.
The Somaliland administration has not yet issued an official statement on the assassination. Sources in Hargeisa say senior officials are holding emergency consultations.
Meanwhile, citizens have taken to social media to express grief, anger, and calls for justice.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Analysts suggest that the high-profile nature of the killing may point to organized elements seeking to destabilize the region or undermine Somaliland’s political standing.
