Ethiopia: 36,000 people flee to Kenya following inter-regional violence

Deadly clashes that erupted in southern Ethiopia have pushed tens of thousands of civilians to cross the border into Kenya. According to an assessment provided to RFI on October 24, 2026, by Marsabit County Commissioner Stanley Kamande, at least 36,000 Ethiopians have arrived in the Kenyan town of Moyale. The non-governmental organization Acled has recorded at least five fatalities linked to this escalation of armed violence between two neighboring regions.

The resurgence of the conflict stems from historical territorial disputes between the regional administrations of Oromia and Somali. According to information reported by the Ethiopian media outlet The Addis Standard, the current crisis was triggered when a Somali region flag was raised in a contested sector of the Ethiopian side of Moyale. A violent confrontation immediately followed, notably resulting in the death of a 13-year-old girl.

To cope with this sudden humanitarian influx, the Kenyan Red Cross and local authorities are organizing the reception of displaced persons. The organization has set up temporary shelter structures to meet urgent needs for drinking water and food. Some of the refugees are also being taken in directly by local communities on the Kenyan side, as arrivals were still continuing on October 24, 2026.

This security deterioration is taking place against a backdrop of overall instability in Ethiopia, marked by the coexistence of several flashpoints, including the renewed clashes in the northern Tigray region. The shared administrative management of the Moyale border zone remains a critical sticking point, in the absence of a definitive agreement on territorial delimitation between the local Somali and Oromo authorities.

Our perspective

These tragic clashes highlight the urgency of promoting inter-community dialogue and the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in Africa. The unity and stability of Ethiopia depend on the absolute respect for human life and the fundamental rights of every citizen. The solidarity shown by the people of Kenya demonstrates the strength of African fraternal ties in the face of humanitarian crises.