At least nine people have been killed and thousands displaced due to recent clashes in the southern Ethiopian border town of Moyale, local officials and residents reported. The fighting, which began on Wednesday, involved ethnic tensions between the Oromo and Somali groups inhabiting the area. Residents said that gunfire was still audible as of Thursday.
A hospital official in Moyale, Ethiopia, confirmed that around 30 injured individuals had been brought in over the past several days, many wounded by heavy weapons. Of those injured, four died on Thursday and five more succumbed to their injuries the following day. The official, who requested anonymity, also noted ongoing violence and destruction in the town. Social media footage verified by independent sources showed a bulldozer engulfed in flames near a petrol station, as well as crowds attempting to dismantle fuel-dispensing equipment.
The unrest has forced thousands to seek safety across the border in Kenya. Stanley Kamande, the county commissioner for Marsabit, which includes Kenya’s Moyale, said approximately 2,500 Ethiopians displaced by the violence were accommodated in the Kenyan town. The spillover has strained local resources and heightened security concerns.
In addition to the influx of refugees, local Kenyan authorities reported incidents related to the conflict. A police report indicated that a stray bullet lodged in the neck of a woman in Moyale, Kenya. She has since undergone treatment and was reportedly in stable condition.
The violence underscores ongoing ethnic tensions in parts of southern Ethiopia, where diverse communities often compete for resources and political influence. The situation remains volatile as security forces on both sides work to contain the clashes while humanitarian needs increase in the border region.
Regional officials have yet to announce specific measures to address the conflict or the humanitarian impact; meanwhile, cross-border displacement has raised concerns over potential escalation and long-term instability.