Afar–Somali clashes

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.{{Cite news|date=2021-04-07|title=At least 100 killed in border clashes between Ethiopia's Somali and Afar regions - official|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-ethiopia-security-idUSKBN2BU0RA|access-date=2021-04-08|archive-date=7 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407154446/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-ethiopia-security-idUSKBN2BU0RA|url-status=live}}

According to Crisis Group since the conflicts began between the groups dozens of lives have been claimed.{{citation|title=Global Overview|date=31 December 2020|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/january-2021-alerts-and-december-trends-2020|access-date=January 21, 2021|archive-date=2 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502071313/https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/january-2021-alerts-and-december-trends-2020|url-status=live}} In October 2020, 27 people were killed. On 2 April 2021, 100 cattle herders were reportedly shot dead.{{citation|title=Over 100 killed in clashes in Ethiopia's Afar, Somali regions|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/7/dozens-killed-in-clashes-in-ethiopias-afar-somali-regions|access-date=April 7, 2021|archive-date=8 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408120202/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/7/dozens-killed-in-clashes-in-ethiopias-afar-somali-regions|url-status=live}}{{citation|title=News: At Least 27 Killed in Clashes in the Border Between Afar, Somali Regions|date=29 October 2020|url=https://addisstandard.com/news-at-least-27-killed-in-clashes-in-the-border-between-afar-somali-regions/|access-date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=7 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407165511/https://addisstandard.com/news-at-least-27-killed-in-clashes-in-the-border-between-afar-somali-regions/|url-status=live}}

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.{{cite news |title=Protesters Block Ethiopia Rail Link After Clashes Leave 300 Dead |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-27/protests-block-djibouti-ethiopia-railway-somali-guardian-says |access-date=27 July 2021 |agency=Bloomberg |date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727203112/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-27/protests-block-djibouti-ethiopia-railway-somali-guardian-says |url-status=live }} The conflict spilled over to Djibouti itself, where Afars and Somalis clashed in the Balbala suburb of Djibouti city.{{Cite web|title=Djibouti: Two people killed, over 20 injured during ethnic clashes in Djibouti City, Aug. 1 /update 1|url=https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/508751/djibouti-two-people-killed-over-20-injured-during-ethnic-clashes-in-djibouti-city-aug-1-update-1|access-date=2021-08-05|website=GardaWorld|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Djibouti: Protests in Djibouti City, Aug. 1|url=https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/508721/djibouti-protests-in-djibouti-city-aug-1|access-date=2021-08-05|website=GardaWorld|language=en}}

On 15 May 2022, both regions agreed to withdraw their forces from the disputed territory and support the return of displaced people.{{cite web |title=Milestone to end communal violence as Afar, Somali special forces removed from conflict areas |url=https://borkena.com/2022/05/15/afar-somali-regions-to-remove-special-forces-from-conflict-areas/ |website=borkena|date=15 May 2022 }} 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.{{Cite web |date=12 November 2022 |title=News: More than a dozen civilians killed following latest clashes between Afar, Somali regions militias near border areas |url=https://addisstandard.com/news-civilians-casualties-following-latest-clashes-between-afar-somali-regions-militias-near-border-areas/ |website=Addis Standard}}

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.{{Cite news |date=29 March 2023 |title=News: Army kills three civilians, severely injures six following protests in Sitti zone, Somali region: local official |work=Addis Standard |url=https://addisstandard.com/news-army-kills-three-civilians-severely-injures-six-following-protests-in-sitti-zone-somali-region/}} Days later, on 30 March, there were reports that Afar and Somali militia groups clashed around areas surrounding the road.{{Cite web |last=Abel Tesfaye |date=4 April 2023 |title=Federal action needed to end Ethiopia's Somali-Afar conflict |url=https://www.ethiopia-insight.com/2023/04/04/federal-action-needed-to-end-ethiopias-somali-afar-conflict/ |website=Ethiopia Insight}}

In March 2024, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council initiated another round of peace talks, which led to a ceasefire agreement on 18 April 2024. The Council asked that the regional governments of both Somali and Afar regions fulfill their responsibilities in sustaining the ceasefire.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-20 |title=Afar-Somali border conflict |url=https://epo.acleddata.com/afar-somali-border-conflict/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Ethiopia Peace Observatory |language=en-US}}

A high-level meeting convened by the Ethiopian National Committee, established to address the conflict between Somali and Afar, was held on 13 September 2024. The gathering was attended by Temesgen Tiruneh, Deputy Prime Minister, Binalf Andualem, Minister of Peace, the presidents of both regions, and representatives from federal and regional security agencies. Awol Arba Unde, president of the Afar region, and Mustafa Mohammed Omar (Cagjar), president of the Somali region, stated that high-ranking officials from both regions and the federal government have held discussions aimed at identifying the root causes of the conflicts and developing collaborative solutions. "The full implementation of the objectives outlined by the National Committee has been largely successful, including the cessation of conflict, prevention of civilian casualties, and the deployment of federal security forces in peaceful areas," Binalf Andualem, Minister of Peace, noted during the meeting held yesterday. "This has allowed the local population to experience a return to normalcy and hope for a more peaceful future."{{cite news |title=News: National Committee announces ‘cessation of hostilities’ between Afar, Somali regions |url=https://addisstandard.com/national-committee-announces-cessation-of-hostilities-between-afar-somali-regions/ |work=Addis Standard |date=14 September 2024}}

• Afar Region
• Somali Region

{{reflist}}

{{Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Afar-Somali clashes}}

Category:Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)

Category:History of the Afar Region

Category:History of the Somali Region (Ethiopia)

Category:Riots and civil disorder in Ethiopia

Category:2020s conflicts

Category:2020s in Ethiopia

Category:Extrajudicial killings in Ethiopia

Category:Djibouti–Ethiopia relations

{{Ethiopia-hist-stub}}