Oromo–Somali clashes

The Oromo–Somali clashes began in December 2016 following territorial disputes between Oromo and Somali communities in Ethiopia. Hundreds of people were killed.

Background
Ethiopia has a federal political arrangement structured along ethno-linguistic lines. The Oromia Region is the largest and most populous state in the country and constitutes primarily those of the Oromo ethnic group, the largest ethnic group in the country, while the Somali Region, the second largest state by area in the country, primarily constitutes those of the Somali ethnic group.

Somalis are mostly pastoralists and Oromos tend to be farmers, as well as pastoralists. It has been difficult to demarcate clear borders between the states as pastoral communities tend to cross borders in search for pasture for their animals. This has led to competition, such as for wells and grazing land, over the years, with tens of thousands of people being displaced in some conflicts.

In 2004, a referendum to decide on the fate of more than 420 kebeles, the country's smallest administrative unit, gave 80% of them to Oromia, leading to Somali minorities fleeing those areas.

2016
The current exacerbation of the conflict is speculated to be caused from competition arisen from a prolonged drought. From December 2016 at the border of the Oromia and Somali regions, the Oromia and Somali communities territorial tension boiled, notably near the town of Deka, leaving at least 30 people dead and more than 50,000 displaced. The Oromo claim the area is their ancestral land and the Somali families had been brought in from Ethiopian Somali regional. The situation escalated when the two communities’ clansmen started revenge attacks. The clashes involved heavily armed men on both sides in locations all along the border. Schools were looted and civil servants shot in their offices. Residents on the Oromo side also reported widespread rapes. The worst of the violence took place in the area around Negele Borana. More than 100 people died and thousands were displaced in February and March in the Negele area alone. Oromo activists have claimed much higher numbers.

2017
On 20 April 2017 the Oromia and Somali states of Ethiopia have signed an agreement to peacefully solve disputes. Though in September 2017, clashes erupted killing hundreds of the Oromo ethnicity and some on Somali side.

The regional special police of both states, called the Liyu in the Somali region and the Liyu Hail of Oromia state, have been accused of being behind many of the atrocities.

2018
In May 2018, four people were killed and 200 houses burned in clashes.

In July 2018, Oromo militias killed 50 Somalis.

Displaced people
Up to 400,000 have been displaced by the fighting as of November 2017.