49 political violence events
22% decrease compared to the last two weeks
13 incidents of violence targeting civilians
32% decrease compared to the last two weeks
At least 132 reported fatalities due to political violence
14% increase compared to the last two weeks
ACLED is a living dataset and figures are subject to change as new information becomes available.
Ethiopia’s Dasanech community and Kenya’s Turkana community clash over lake use
The Dasanech community from the South Ethiopian region and the Turkana community of Kenya engaged in violent clashes for four days, resulting in at least 30 fatalities and forcing 10,000 residents of Dasanech woreda to flee their residences. Local authorities from both sides noted that the conflict stemmed from the theft of boats, tents, and fish from the Ethiopian side of Turkana Lake.1TIKVAH Ethiopia “‘Ten thousands pastoralists have been displaced’ Dasanech woreda administrator,” 24 February 2025 (Amharic) The lake, which both communities share, is located at the borders of the two countries. The two communities frequently clash over grazing land and cattle rustling.2Elizabeth Kariuki et al. “Water-related conflicts in Turkana County: Analysis of stakeholder interests and concerns,” Water, Peace and Security (WPS) Partnership, 2022, pp. 31-33 On 20 February, two Ethiopian fishermen were killed, and another was injured during an attack by Kenyan militias from Turkana County, Kenya.
In response, armed militias from the Dasanech community launched a counter-attack on 22 February in Lopemukat common waters of Lake Turkana near Todenyang in Turkana county, Kenya, resulting in confrontations with Kenyan national police reservists. At least 20 Kenyan fishermen were reported dead, and several others were injured, while eight Ethiopians lost their lives and two were wounded. The attackers took possession of boats, three firearms, and fishing gear, among other items, before escaping. Kenyan officials later retrieved at least one firearm, 15 boats, fishing nets, and a motorbike. The Kenyan security forces also returned six individuals from the Dasanech community to Ethiopia. Following this clash, the Ethiopian local government apprehended 32 Kenyans who had been fishing in the Ethiopian part of Lake Turkana and confiscated five boats. The detained fishermen were released and sent back to Kenya on the same day.
On 23 February, a retaliatory attack from Turkana ethnic militias in Ediboron and Toltena Lebamukit kebeles of Dasanech woreda resulted in clashes with ethnic Dasanech pastoralists. This confrontation persisted for two days, leading to at least 13 deaths and two serious injuries on the Ethiopian side. Thousands of civilians were forced to evacuate their homes.3TIKVAH Ethiopia “‘Ten thousands pastoralists have been displaced’ Dasanech woreda administrator,” 24 February 2025 (Amharic) Residents reported that the aggressors also stole six boats, approximately 130 fishing nets, around 500,000 dried fish, as well as other belongings.
The TPLF’s internal dispute turns violent in the Tigray region
On 19 February, around 30 members of Tigray security forces, from a group known as Army 26, clashed with the community residing in Atsgebeta village in Addis Alem kebele in the Southeastern zone of Tigray. Security forces that are affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) faction led by Debretsion Gebremichael took the kebele administration’s official seal and tried to flee the area. At least 17 civilians and an unspecified number of security force members were injured due to gunshots and beatings.
Since August 2024, the Debretsion faction has been appointing parallel local administrators across the region and insisting that administrators appointed by the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray step down. In Addis Alem kebele, the current administration was elected by the local residents in January 2025.4Mulegeta Atsbeha, “17 people injured in clashes between security forces and residents in Tigray,” VOA Amharic, 20 February 2025 (Amharic) Even before the 19 February incident, the administrator was facing pressure from Debretsion-aligned former administrators, who were ousted by the elections, to yield power. When the security forces came to take the seal, the residents and elders of the kebele insisted they wished to be governed by the leaders who were “elected by the people.”5BBC Amharic, “20 people reportedly injured due to gunfire in Tigray,” 21 February 2025 (Amharic); Mulegeta Atsbeha, “17 people injured in clashes between security forces and residents in Tigray,” VOA Amharic, 20 February 2025 (Amharic) The leader of Army 26 denied that security forces attacked civilians, saying forces entered the kebele at residents’ request.6Mulegeta Atsbeha, “17 people injured in clashes between security forces and residents in Tigray,” VOA Amharic, 20 February 2025 (Amharic) However, the interim government and regional opposition parties accused the security forces of attempting to overtake the local administration and using force against civilians.7BBC Amharic, “20 people reportedly injured due to gunfire in Tigray,” 21 February 2025 (Amharic); Mulegeta Atsbeha, “17 people injured in clashes between security forces and residents in Tigray,” VOA Amharic, 20 February 2025 (Amharic)
The TPLF has been rocked by an internal rift leading to the creation of two factions — one led by the president of the TPLF, Debretsion, and another by the current president of the interim government, Getachew Reda. In January, numerous Tigray security force senior leaders openly sided with Debretsion (for more on the internal dispute, see EPO Monthly Update: October 2024 and Ethiopia situation update (5 February 2025)).
The OLF/OLA-Shane attacks two more local administrators in Oromia
Since the signing of a peace agreement between the Oromia regional government and a faction of Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — on 1 December 2024, political violence has been decreasing in the region (for more, see Ethiopia Weekly Update (10 December 2024); Ethiopia Weekly Update (17 December 2024); Ethiopia situation update (5 February 2025), and Ethiopia situation update (19 February 2025)). From 15 to 28 February, ACLED records 10 political violence events, which is a 58% decrease compared to the previous two weeks. Nevertheless, attacks on local officials by the OLA/OLF-Shane have persisted. On 19 February, members of the OLA/OLF-Shane ambushed and killed the head of Gerar Jarso Health Office and the head of Gerar Jarso Woreda Prosperity Party in Adisge Kebele in Gerar Jarso woreda of North Shewa zone. The victims were returning from a visit to a local public school. This is the second attack on local administrators in North Shewa zone in February.
From the signing of the peace agreement on 1 December 2024 to 28 February, ACLED records eight attacks against local administrators in the region, but only three such attacks from 1 September to 30 November. The majority of these attacks were conducted by the OLA/OLF-Shane in North Shewa zone. This zone has been the hub of political violence involving the militant group since the end of the first round of peace talks between the government and the OLA/OLF-Shane in May 2023.
