The Isaaq genocide, a horrific period in the 1980s, was a systematic campaign of killing targeting the Isaaq people, orchestrated by Somalia regime of dictator Siad Barre. Estimates suggest that up to 200,000 members of Isaaq tribe were brutally targeted and murdered. This tragic period left a lasting impact on the region, and evidence of the violence can still be found scattered across the Republic of Somaliland.
Over 200 mass graves have been identified, serving as a chilling reminder of the brutality that occurred during this dark chapter in history.
The Isaaq Genocide, orchestrated by the Somalia National Army under Siad Barre’s dictatorship, caused widespread devastation and total destruction. This period affected the Isaaq tribe profoundly, leading to the devastation of their cities and displacement of their population. Major cities like Hargeisa, Burao, and Berbera, which were predominantly inhabited by the Isaaq tribe, were heavily impacted.
Hargeisa, the largest city and capital, suffered extensive damage, with much of its infrastructure reduced to rubble and a significant majority of its population killed or displaced.
