Deadly clashes in southern Ethiopia drive thousands to cross the border

Deadly clashes erupted between forces from the Somali and Oromia regions in the border town of Moyale with Kenya in southern Ethiopia, killing at least six people and forcing about 10,000 to flee across the border into Kenya. The confrontations occurred on Tuesday after the Somali region's flag was raised in the town, which is under joint administration between the two regions. The ACLED conflict monitoring organization reported the death of a 13-year-old girl in addition to at least five other people. AFP quoted a resident of the town, named Wako Ghanale, saying that fighters from the Somali region were firing heavy gunfire from large buildings inside the town, while Oromia forces were returning fire. Another resident, Hussein Halkino, spoke of civilian deaths and injuries. Malik Adan, a Red Cross worker in Kenya, confirmed that at least 10,000 people had fled and crossed the border into Kenyan territory. No comment was issued by the Ethiopian federal government under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as of the time of the report's publication.