Hargeysa (HOL) - So far 11 have been wounded and 2 have died after violent demonstrations erupted in some districts in the city of Hargeisa.

The demonstrations began this morning near the airport and later spread to other parts of the city including the centre of the city’s big market where demonstrators confronted the police.

Later on the military joined the police as reinforcement and used live ammunition.  It is not known yet the exact number of casualties and damages as a result of these violent demonstrations.

The demonstrations started after the government ordered the removal of a rig drilling for water in south of the city. Youth in the area opposed to the removal of the rig protested the decision. Nevertheless, the government removed the truck carrying the drilling rig into a building not far from Ambassador Hotel near Hargeisa Airport. The demonstrations have lasted until 4PM this afternoon.  

The youth opposed to the removal of the drilling rig camped last night near the building were the truck carrying the rig was stationed arguing that the rig is being moved to Borama city after the governor of Awdal region told the BBC yesterday that there is shortage of water in the region.

“We will not accept the removal of the rig until it finishes the drilling of the wells it was doing, “said Mowlid Farah who is one the young people opposed to the government’s decision to remove the rig after we asked him questions.

Senior official in the government remain mute on the issue but eyewitnesses told us that the chief of the police of Somaliland and the Minister of Agriculture who discussed the matter said that the rig is not being moved to Borama but can not function properly due missing parts which have been ordered from overseas.
The plan was that the rig drill four wells in the south of the city but Somaliland administration ordered the removal of the rig from the area it was drilling before it completed its work.

HOL is following the situation closely will report to you any development soon.

© 2008 Hiiraan Online Inc.

Arraweelo10 @ 7/9/2008 4:41 PM EST  Layla, subxaana Caashay that was powerfull statement. Dhuungal, haddii Riyaale lagu diidaneyn qabiilkiisa waa arin fiican oo reer Somaliland u roon. Mida kale waxqabad la'aanta waalalow arin cusub maaha, ee waa in lala xisaabtamo oo markii waqtigii doorashooyinka laga taqalusaa. Adiga waxaa wax ka sheegee Riyale, Koo Cadde Muuse la dhahaayo oo Puntland xoolaheedii iyo maamulkeedi bing bong ku dheela oo maalin kast Hoteelada Abu Dhabi ugu qaalisan iska jiifa 10 bilood, laba bilood sanadka ku soo noqda, casiir kiisa iska caabayo aa ka daran. Ar waa la kala daran yahay, Somaliland armay hadda Jano tahay dhib kasta oo jiraba, wax aan la haagasan karin ma jirto ee waa in shacab u istaagan inay xaqooda dhacsadaan, dagaal la'aan.

dhuungal @ 7/9/2008 2:12 PM EST  Salute brothers and sisters! Waxaan idiinku hambal yaynaayaa dabaysha caafimaad ee ka dhacaysa form-kan ilaa shalay Keep up this compassionate communications. Arraweelo10 Waan dhegaystey waraysigii President Riyaale runtii may xumayn Tan labaad huuno, u malayn maayo in reer Somaliland uga soo horjeedo qabiilkiisa Waayo haddii taasi jirto markii horeba lama soo doorteen. Waxa qudha ee lagu dhaliilaayaa Wax qabad xumo,Karti daro musuq-maasaq, taas oo runtii ragaadisay DHAMAAN DHULKA SOOMALIYII DEGTO!!

danabka garxa @ 7/9/2008 1:33 PM EST  One day inshallah, marka alla inoo xoreeyo dhulkeenii eey umadu noqoto mid qabiilka ka bogsatay, dhulkii oo barwaaqo ah iyo shidaalkii oo inoo soo baxay eeynu ka wada noqono dhulkii amiiro iyo amiirado maybe who knows walaal,we will be  jaar fiican Takale ee saaxiib nimada hada ayay nu nahay asxaab waayo aqoontu waa qaali,markaa halganka yaan laga daali casharka dhigidiisa ha la wado team kana ha inaga kala dhimina

nadia208 @ 7/9/2008 1:20 PM EST  C'est gentile mon Danabka. Subxaan caashay,adiga waxaad tahay qof aan saaxiib iyo daris la noqon lahaay. Macalinna ka dhigan lahaay. Merci .

danabka garxa @ 7/9/2008 12:14 PM EST  Layla waxaad ahayd adiga iyo nadiya araweelo sobobaha ugu horaysa eey daku yidhaahdaan fikrado caafimaad qabaad Hol ugu tagaysaa markaa walaal halganka wacdiga umadeena sidaa fudud ha uga hadhin waxa idin weheliya geesigii nargaal markaa waxaan qabaa without the 4 mousquetaires Hol will be an ampty place.