Borena Zone Conflict - Ethiopia Peace Observatory

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Moyale is a border town in Borena zone that marks a point of convergence between Ethiopia’s Somali and Oromia regions, as well as Ethiopia’s border with Kenya. Both Somali and Oromia regional states administer Moyale, and it is strategically important to Ethiopia and Kenya as it provides a road linking Nairobi to Addis Ababa. The Borana and Gabra clans of the Oromo ethnic group, the Garri clan of the Somali ethnic group, and a small number of traders from other ethnic groups from Ethiopia all live in the town. The traditional lands of the Borana, Gabra, and Garri clans span the border with Kenya. All three clans are predominantly pastoralists.¹

Conflict in this area is multilayered and involves numerous competing actors, including the Gabra, Borana, and Garri clan groups. The main causes of conflict between the three clans are competition over access to land resources and livestock raids.² After the implementation of ethno-federalism in the 1990s, a border conflict along Oromia and Somali regions erupted. The Borana clan claimed that based on the new ethnic-based regional formation, its land was recognized under the Liban zone of Somali region rather than Oromia region. Meanwhile, the Gabra clan has wanted to establish its own special woreda within the Borena zone in Oromia region.³ The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) splinter group the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — is also active in the area.

At a meeting with the Kenyan president during the inauguration of the Moyale One-Stop Border Post on 9 December 2020, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed requested Kenya’s assistance in combating OLA/OLF-Shane militants along the border in a bid for increased regional security cooperation.⁴ The prime minister has also attempted to sway the Oromo population away from the OLA/OLF-Shane by appeasing traditional Oromo leaders (known as Abbaa Gadaa) in the area. Notably, in December 2021, a traditional leader in Borena zone denounced the OLA/OLF-Shane as the “enemy of the people.”⁵ While some OLA/OLF-Shane activity has been recorded in the Borena zone, levels are low in comparison to neighboring Guji and West Guji zones.

Borena zone’s history of violent confrontations and its location as a junction for multiple ethnicities make it susceptible to heightened violence in times of rising ethno-nationalist tensions and perceived state fragility.

Conflict surrounding the newly established East Borena zone

In February 2023, the regional government of Oromia announced the establishment of a new zone in the region — East Borena zone — by reassigning territory from Bale, Guji, and Borana zones.⁶ Guji Oromo, a subclan of the Oromo ethnic group who reside in the newly created zone, expressed discontent over the change.⁷ Demonstrations erupted and were met with deadly force. Protesters who voiced their opposition to the creation of the East Borena zone denounced the government’s decision to create the new administrative area without first consulting the local residents. In particular, many opposed the inclusion of the town of Negele within the new zone. Residents who protested on several occasions in Guji zone complained that they could no longer access government services. On 28 February 2023, several protesters were killed by security forces who fired live bullets into the crowd in Bore town. Additional protests connected to the creation of the new zone were reported in towns in Gujji, Borena, and East Borena zones throughout the first half of 2023.

This conflict profile was last updated on 05/08/2024.