Voices Rise from the Fields: The People of Awdal Demand to Stay on Their Land
Wajaale, Awdal – July 2025
In a powerful display of resistance, farmers and elders from the border town of Wajaale in Awdal have raised their voices against what they describe as “coordinated waves of displacement” (Mawjado Barakicin Ah) affecting rural communities. Their message was loud and clear: “Maya Barakicin!” (“No to Displacement!”)
The protest, organized peacefully in the green open fields of Wajaale, was captured in compelling footage now making rounds across Somali social media. The images show elders holding microphones and canes, addressing fellow citizens with urgency and resolve, as long lines of land cruisers quietly lined the horizon — a symbolic background for a growing crisis.
The Background: A Quiet Crisis Brewing in the Borderlands
Wajaale, a key border town between Somaliland (Somalia) and Ethiopia, has long served as a strategic trading hub. But in recent years, it has also become the center of mounting land tensions. Reports from local residents and clan elders suggest that fertile land historically used by small-scale farmers is increasingly being claimed or leased by private investors — many allegedly linked to larger cross-border interests or state-backed development schemes.
While authorities claim these projects are part of regional economic revitalization, farmers argue they are being excluded from consultation and driven off their ancestral lands with little to no compensation.
Elders Speak: “We Will Not Leave Our Land”
Speaking in front of a crowd gathered near the disputed fields, one elder proclaimed:
“Awdal iyamaa iska leh? Aniga Awdal State ayaa ka talinaya!”
(Who owns Awdal? I am the one who governs Awdal State!)
This powerful declaration has become a rallying cry for many across the region, especially among youth who view the statement as a call for local autonomy and community-led development.
Another elder warned of “external manipulation” targeting border communities with the aim of turning historically rich farmland into private estates without community consent. “This is not just about land — it’s about identity, dignity, and survival,” he added.
Visual Resistance: The Role of Media and AyroTV
AyroTV has been on the ground documenting the protest and speaking with affected families. Through a series of 4K video interviews, drone shots, and on-the-ground reporting, AyroTV is committed to amplifying these voices — voices that are often ignored in mainstream discourse.
In one particularly symbolic thumbnail now trending online, the phrase “Maya Barakicin” overlays an image of elders standing shoulder-to-shoulder against a green field, fists raised in defiance. Behind them, a historic portrait of a Somali freedom fighter reminds viewers that this resistance is part of a longer struggle for justice in Awdal.
What’s Next? Calls for Dialogue, Not Bulldozers
The protest leaders have called for immediate halting of all land transfers pending an independent investigation into their legality. They are also demanding the formation of a Wajaale Land Rights Council, composed of elders, farmers, and local legal experts to ensure transparent dialogue with the government and investors.
Meanwhile, diaspora members are being urged to support advocacy, raise awareness, and pressure international institutions to recognize the rights of smallholder communities in Awdal.
AyroTV’s Commitment
AyroTV will continue to report on this issue, traveling across Awdal and interviewing those whose livelihoods are directly impacted. As a media platform rooted in storytelling and justice, we stand with the people who refuse to be erased from the land they’ve called home for generations.
📢 Have You Witnessed Land Displacement in Your Community?
Send us your story, photos, or videos at report@ayrotv.com or tag us using #MayaBarakicin #AwdalVoices. Your story matters.
