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Afar–Somali clashes

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Afar–Somali clashes
Part of the Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)
Date28 October 2020 – present
(4 years, 1 month, 2 weeks and 1 day)
Location
Border between Afar Region and Somali Region
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Somali Region
Somali-allied militias		 Afar Region Afar Region
Afar Region Afar-allied militias
Commanders and leaders
Mustafa Mohammed Omar (Cagjar) Afar Region Awol Arba Unde
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
448+ killed[1][2][3]

The Afar–Somali clashes are territorial conflicts between the Afar and Somali Regions of Ethiopia. The current conflict which began in 2014, is centered around three special Kebeles inhabited by ethnic Somalis from the Issa Clan. These three special Kebeles include the Adaytu (Afar: Qadaytu, Somali: Cadayto) in Mille woreda, Undufo (Afar: Qundafaqo, Somali: Cundhufo) in Gewane woreda, and Gedamaytu (Afar: Gadamaytu, Somali: Garba-Ciise) in Amibara Woreda.[1][4]

Background

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In 2014, the federal government, headed by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) redrew the boundary between the two regions. As a result, the Somali Region lost three villages to the Afar Region. Since then they have been trying to get the villages back under their control.[5]

Clashes

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According to Crisis Group since the conflicts began between the groups dozens of lives have been claimed.[2] In October 2020, 27 people were killed. On 2 April 2021, 100 cattle herders were reportedly shot dead.[6][7]

On 24 July 2021, clashes erupted in the town of Garbaiisa. The clashes, killing 300, were followed by massive protests in the Somali region, with roadblocks put on the only road out of the settlement, and the partial destruction of the Ethio-Djibouti Railways, where 95% of Ethiopia's maritime trade goes through.[8] The conflict spilled over to Djibouti itself, where Afars and Somalis clashed in the Balbala suburb of Djibouti city.[9] As a result, on 1 August the American embassy in Djibouti issued a demonstration alert warning of riots in Djibouti city's Balbala and Arhiba areas.[10]

On 15 May 2022, both regions agreed to withdraw their forces from the disputed territory and support the return of displaced people.[11] However, conflict flared up again on 9 November the same year, where fighting between local militias killed at least 18 people and injured at least 28 others in Dheymeed woreda, Sitti Zone.[3]

Somali Region protesters blocked the Ethio-Djibouti Railways on 27 March 2023, believing that the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) "was implicitly supporting" the Afar Region in the border dispute. Local officials eventually convinced the protesters to unblock the road, but alleged that shortly afterward, the ENDF "suddenly opened fire" and killed 3 of the protesters, while wounding another 6.[12] Days later, on 30 March, there were reports that Afar and Somali militia groups clashed around areas surrounding the road.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Oatis, Jonathan; Fletcher, Philippa, eds. (6 April 2021), "At least 100 killed in border clashes between Ethiopia's Somali and Afar regions - official", Reuters, archived from the original on 6 April 2021, retrieved 7 April 2021
  2. ^ a b Global Overview, 31 December 2020, archived from the original on 2 May 2021, retrieved 21 January 2021
  3. ^ a b "News: More than a dozen civilians killed following latest clashes between Afar, Somali regions militias near border areas". Addis Standard. 12 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Afar-Somali Border Conflict | Ethiopia Peace Observatory". 31 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ "At least 100 killed in border clashes between Ethiopia's Somali and Afar regions - official". Reuters. 7 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  6. ^ Over 100 killed in clashes in Ethiopia's Afar, Somali regions, archived from the original on 8 April 2021, retrieved 7 April 2021
  7. ^ NEWS: AT LEAST 27 KILLED IN CLASHES IN THE BORDER BETWEEN AFAR, SOMALI REGIONS, 29 October 2020, archived from the original on 7 April 2021, retrieved 29 October 2020
  8. ^ "Protesters Block Ethiopia Rail Link After Clashes Leave 300 Dead". Bloomberg. 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Djibouti: Two people killed, over 20 injured during ethnic clashes in Djibouti City, Aug. 1 /update 1". GardaWorld. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Djibouti: Protests in Djibouti City, Aug. 1". GardaWorld. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Milestone to end communal violence as Afar, Somali special forces removed from conflict areas". borkena. 15 May 2022.
  12. ^ "News: Army kills three civilians, severely injures six following protests in Sitti zone, Somali region: local official". Addis Standard. 29 March 2023.
  13. ^ Abel Tesfaye (4 April 2023). "Federal action needed to end Ethiopia's Somali-Afar conflict". Ethiopia Insight.


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