Last updated: 29/09/2023
The Afar-Somali border region experiences frequent violent conflict due to long-running disputes over contested territory. Three kebeles inhabited by ethnic Somalis from the Issa clan are at the center of the conflict. These three kebeles are located in Afar’s zones 1 and 3 and Somali’s Siti zone (see map below). The contested areas include Adaytu kebele of Mille woreda, Undufo kebele in Gewane woreda, and Gedamaytu kebele in Amibara woreda.
Ethnic Somalis who inhabit the contested territory want to join the neighboring Somali regional state in Ethiopia, an action that the Afar regional authorities strongly oppose. The disputed areas have important resources, including the Awash river, and important transport lines, including the highway and railway connecting Addis Ababa and Djibouti. Violent conflict over these resources has increased since 2018, with major clashes occurring in the context of heightened political tensions during the run-up to the national elections in 2021, as well as afterward.
Both Afar and ethnic Somalis use the Awash river for their livestock, and trade routes between Addis Ababa and Djibouti are vital for the local economy. According to political historian John Markakis:
“Since the beginning of the colonial period the Afar have been pushed northwards by their Somali neighbours…the Ise [Issa] pushed the Afar from Dire Dawa northwards to claim the eastern portion of the Alighedi plain and came within sight of the Awash river; which the Afar believe is the Ise [Issa’s] ultimate goal.”1John Markakis, ‘Anatomy of a Conflict: Afar & Ise Ethiopia,’ Review of African Political Economy, 2003, p. 447
When ethno-federalism was introduced in 1991, both Somali and Afar became regional states with their own state councils and constitutions. The allocation of political power based on ethno-federalism divided communities further, and like other locations in Ethiopia, conflict has expanded beyond disputed locations and is fought between formal security forces and informal militias from both sides.
In December 2014, the two regional states signed an agreement granting Somalis residing in the disputed territory greater political autonomy as ‘special kebeles’ within the Afar regional state. These kebeles included Garba-Issa, Undufo, and Adeytu towns. However, the agreement failed to resolve the conflict, and thus on 3 May 2019, the cabinet of the Somali regional state withdrew from the agreement. In its decision to withdraw, the cabinet stated the agreement “has no base under the federal constitution.”2Hayalnesh Gezahegn, ‘Updated News: Somali region unilaterally withdraws from 2014 agreement transfering three kebeles to Afar region, beefs security,’ Addis Standard, 4 May 2019
In February 2021, ACLED records three incidents of armed clashes between Afar and Somali ethnic militias in Mille, Adaar, and Amibara woredas of Afar region. Intensified violence erupted again in April 2021.
Fighting between Afar and Somali regional forces and their associated militias reignited after the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) listed 30 polling stations in these three areas under the Somali regional state. When the Afar regional state disputed this decision,3Afar Regional State Government Communication Service, ‘I will inform the decision of the submitted petition before the start of voter registration – Election Board,’ 18 February 2021 the NEBE decided to cancel the disputed polling stations and instead advised residents in the contested areas to register and vote in neighboring kebeles.4National Election Board of Ethiopia NEBE, ‘A statement on the petition submitted by the Afar National Regional Government to the Ethiopian National Election Board regarding the list of polling station,’ 24 March 2021 The Somali regional government rejected NEBE’s decision and warned it would present “difficulties” for voters if these polling stations remained closed.5Somali Regional State Communication Bureau, ‘The Somali Region stated that it will be difficult to participate in the election if the Election Board does not reverse the decision regarding the 8 Kebeles,’ 25 March 2021
Fighting triggered by this dispute from 2 to 6 April 2021 resulted in at least 100 reported fatalities.6BBC Amharic, ‘It was reported that many civilians were killed in the attacks that took place at the border areas of Afar and Somali,’ 6 April 2021; Aljazeera, ‘Over 100 killed in clashes in Ethiopia’s Afar, Somali regions,’ 7 April 2021 As the conflict intensified, so too did the dispute between warring parties with each accusing the other of instigating the violence. The Afar Regional State Communication Bureau claimed that soldiers from the Somali regional special forces attacked Hanruk, Gelano, and Gewane woredas from 2 to 6 April 2021. Meanwhile, the Somali Regional State Communication Bureau insisted that it was the Afar regional special forces, along with a militia – called Uguguma (ኡጉጉማ) – that attacked civilians in Deawdi, Kerefa, Deawdid, Gewrean, Kelale, and Denlehe kebeles.7Voice of America, ‘Officials: Clashes in Disputed Zone Kill Dozens of Ethiopian Herders,’ 6 April 2021; Somali Regional State Communication Bureau, ‘A statement from the Somali National Regional Government regarding the killings and displacements that the Afar National Regional Government is inflicting on the residents of our region,’ 6 April 2021; Deutsche Welle Amharic, ‘The authorities of Afar and Somali region are blaming each other,’ 7 April 2021
To resolve the conflict, the Ministry of Peace invited both parties to meet with participants from the country’s peace and security institutions for dialogue on 8 April 2021. Presidents of both regions attended the dialogue conference with their delegations. At the end of their discussion, both parties agreed to stop the violence, remove their respective forces from the disputed territory, and respect and abide by previous agreements. They also agreed to allow the federal government to investigate the latest round of conflict in order to identify the perpetrators of the recent violence.8Ministry of Peace, ‘A consultation forum called by the Ministry of Peace to end the recent conflict between the Afar and Somali National Regional Governments has ended with an agreement between the two sides,’ 8 April 2021 In May 2022, Afar and Somali regional states reached an agreement to remove their special forces from the disputed territory.9borkena, ‘Milestone to end communal violence as Afar, Somali special forces removed from conflict areas,’ 15 May 2022
Despite the peace agreement, violence has continued to erupt sporadically. Between May 2022 and April 2023, six armed clash events involving both parties were recorded in the disputed territory between the Somali and Afar regions.
Most of the violence along the Afar-Somali regional borders has involved the participation of Afar and Somali regional special forces. In April 2023, the Ethiopian federal government announced the integration of all regional special forces into other security sectors in the country, a move which could lead to a reduction of conflict (for more, see EPO weekly: 8-14 April 2023).
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