Several people have been killed and at least 10,000 displaced to Kenya after clashes between Somali and Oromia regional forces in Ethiopia’s border town of Moyale.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Several people have been killed in fighting between forces from Ethiopia’s Somali and Oromia regional states in the border town of Moyale in recent days, sources told AFP on Saturday.
The clashes, sparked by a territorial dispute, began on Tuesday after the flag of Ethiopia’s Somali regional state was raised in the town, which lies near the Kenyan border and is jointly administered by the two regions.
Conflict-monitoring organisation ACLED said the move triggered clashes that killed a 13-year-old girl. It also reported the deaths of at least five other people.
“Somali forces are firing heavy weapons at major buildings in the town, while Oromia forces are also fighting,” local resident Wako Ganale told AFP by telephone.
Another resident, Hussein Halkeno, told the news agency that several civilians had been killed and wounded in the fighting.
AFP said gunfire could be heard during telephone conversations with residents but was unable to independently verify the death toll.
The violence has raised concerns over renewed instability in an area where disputes over administrative boundaries and territorial control have repeatedly fuelled tensions between communities and regional authorities.
Thousands flee to Kenya
The fighting has also triggered significant displacement, with residents crossing into neighbouring Kenya to escape the violence.
Malik Adan, an official with the Kenya Red Cross, told Kenyan broadcaster NTV on Friday that at least 10,000 people had fled into Kenya to seek safety.
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The influx highlights the potential humanitarian consequences of the clashes, particularly for civilians living in and around the contested border area.
Ethiopia’s federal government, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is from Oromia, had not publicly commented on the latest fighting as of Saturday, according to AFP.
Wider security challenges
The clashes in Moyale add to a series of armed conflicts and security challenges confronting Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country.
Disputes over boundaries between Ethiopia’s regional states, whose administrative structures were established in 1991, have repeatedly triggered violence.
The country has also faced years of fighting involving armed groups in Oromia and Amhara, its two most populous regions, placing additional pressure on federal authorities.
In the north, fighting has again erupted in Tigray after months of rising tensions. The region was devastated by a war between federal forces and Tigrayan forces from 2020 to 2022, a conflict that caused widespread displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile, worsening diplomatic tensions between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea have fuelled fears of a possible renewed confrontation between the two countries.
The latest violence in Moyale underscores the continuing challenges facing Ethiopia as authorities seek to contain regional conflicts, manage disputes over territorial control and prevent further displacement along its borders.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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