Intense combat erupted in Asbuli town, located in the Sitti region of Ethiopia’s Somali regional state, between competing military formations from the Somali and Afar ethnic groups.
The fighting began early Tuesday morning, according to residents, when a group of Afar Liyu police and militias attacked Somali Liyu police and people in the town.
According to Hajji Ali Musa Hassan, an elder from the Sitti district, the conflict killed and injured several Somali police personnel and civilians.
The number of victims from the conflict, however, is still being assessed because impartial government information sources are difficult to come by.
According to eyewitnesses, Ethiopian federal soldiers opened fire on protestors in Ayshica town, which is also located in the Somali regional state’s Siti area, on Monday, killing at least two civilians and injuring several others.
Since Sunday, people in the Sitti region have been protesting against a variety of concerns, including the displacement of residents from local communities.