Saturday October 24, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — At least nine people have been killed and thousands displaced in clashes between Oromo and Somali communities in the Ethiopian border town of Moyale, with more than 2,500 people fleeing into neighboring Kenya, Reuters reported Friday.
The violence erupted following a dispute over the raising of the Somali Regional State flag in Kebele 02, a contested administrative area claimed by both Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional states.
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According to local reports, tensions escalated on Oct. 18 when clashes broke out between members of the two communities, leaving several people dead or injured.
Among the victims was a 13-year-old girl identified as Diqqoo Jaataan Aagaa, who was reportedly killed during the initial violence.
Conflicting accounts have emerged about the circumstances of her death. Some local sources accused Somali regional police of shooting her, while others reported that she was caught in crossfire. Neither account has been independently verified.
Reuters reported Oct. 23 that a health official at a hospital in Moyale confirmed nearly 30 people had been admitted with injuries over several days.
The official said four people died Thursday and another five Friday, bringing the reported death toll to nine.
The fighting also reportedly left houses burned in parts of the town and disrupted transportation, businesses and hotel operations. Many residents remained indoors amid fears of further violence.
Stanley Kamande, identified by Reuters as a Kenyan official in Marsabit County, said at least 2,500 Ethiopians had crossed into Kenya to seek safety in the Kenyan border town of Moyale.
Kenyan police also reported that a woman was struck in the neck by a stray bullet that crossed the border. Her condition was described as stable after receiving medical treatment.
The Kenya Red Cross began preparing emergency assistance for displaced families, with initial plans to support approximately 1,000 households.
Moyale, which straddles the Ethiopia-Kenya border, has experienced recurring tensions involving communities in the Borana area of Oromia and Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State.
Disputes over administrative boundaries, political representation and control of territory have periodically triggered violence between communities in the area.
Local reports indicated that Ethiopian federal security forces intervened to contain the latest clashes and restore order.
The full extent of the casualties and displacement remains unclear, while authorities have yet to establish a definitive account of the events that triggered the fighting.