The United Nations has reported that nearly 36,000 people have been displaced by armed clashes between Somalis and Oromos in southern Ethiopia over the past few days, with many of these individuals seeking refuge in Kenya.
The fighting erupted in the town of Moyale, located on the border between Ethiopia and Kenya, following the raising of the flag of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia in the area. The town is jointly administered by the Somali and Oromo regional states, and border disputes have recently been at the root of the tensions in the region.
The United Nations stated that a large number of those who crossed the border are women and children; some have found shelter with relatives in the local community, while others are staying in temporary accommodation.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has highlighted an urgent need for humanitarian assistance—specifically food, clean water, shelter, sanitation services, and medical care. UNHCR spokesperson Yujin Byun told the AFP news agency that the number of people crossing from Ethiopia into Kenya—specifically in the border area of Moyale—has increased significantly since Thursday.
The UNHCR stated that it is working with the Kenya Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies to support the response efforts led by the Kenyan government.
“Our primary priority is to identify the urgent needs of those seeking safety and then address those needs, while also providing support to the local host communities,” the agency said.
Ethiopia, one of the most populous countries in Africa, is currently experiencing armed conflicts in various regions. Disputes over borders between the country’s regional states frequently trigger clashes; the administrative boundaries established in 1991 remain the primary source of such tensions.
Furthermore, the Ethiopian federal government has been engaged in long-standing conflicts with armed groups operating within the Oromia and Amhara regional states. In the north of the country, fighting has once again flared up in the Tigray region, which was the site of intense conflict between 2020 and 2022.
Furthermore, diplomatic tensions with Eritrea have heightened concerns that the two neighboring countries could clash once again.
