At least nine people have reportedly died in clashes between the Oromo and Somali communities in the town of Moyale—located on the border between Ethiopia’s Somali Region and Kenya—while thousands have been displaced from their homes and have crossed into Kenya, according to a report by the Reuters news agency.
The clashes reportedly stemmed from a dispute over the flag of the Ethiopian Somali Regional State, which was raised in “Kebele 02″—an administrative area contested by both the Oromia and Somali regional states.
Local reports indicate that tensions escalated on October 18, 2026, when the two communities clashed, resulting in the death of a 13-year-old girl named Diqqoo Jaataan Aagaa. However, accounts from the area regarding the circumstances of her death vary; some allege that she was shot by police from the Somali Regional State, while others claim she was killed by gunfire exchanged between the two sides.
On October 23, Reuters cited a health official at a hospital in Moyale, who stated that nearly 30 injured people had been brought to the facility within a few days. The official stated that four people died on Thursday, while another five died on Friday, bringing the death toll to nine.
According to local reports, the fighting also resulted in houses being set on fire in various neighborhoods of the town. The tension has disrupted public transport, commerce, and hotel services, with many people remaining trapped in their homes for fear that the violence might spread.
Stanley Kamande, the governor of Kenya’s Marsabit County, told Reuters that at least 2,500 Ethiopians have crossed the border, seeking refuge and safety in the Kenyan town of Moyale. Kenyan police also reported that a woman was struck in the neck by a stray bullet; however, her condition is now stable following medical treatment.
Moyale has long been a site of territorial and administrative disputes involving the Borana community—from the Oromia Regional State—and the Somali Regional State. Local reports indicate that Ethiopian federal security forces have intervened to stabilize the situation. Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross Society has begun preparing emergency aid for displaced families, with an initial plan to reach 1,000 households.
The security situation in Moyale remains a cause for concern, as reports regarding casualties and the circumstances under which the clashes began have not yet been independently verified.