Daawley, Ethiopia – Violent clashes broke out early Wednesday in the Daawley area of Ethiopia’s Somali Region, with reports of multiple casualties and escalating tensions. The conflict, involving regional security forces and armed civilians, has drawn sharp condemnation from Somaliland, which labeled the incident a “massacre” targeting innocent pastoralists.

Reliable information from the conflict zone is scarce due to communication outages, but sources confirm both deaths and injuries. Medical teams have transported the injured to hospitals in Somaliland’s Baligubadle district and Ethiopia’s Jigjiga, with at least five emergency vehicles dispatched to assist the wounded.

Somaliland has issued a scathing condemnation of the violence, accusing the Liyu Police, a paramilitary force in the Somali Region, of committing atrocities against civilians.

“This is a heinous act that violates human rights and undermines governance,” said Abdalle Mohamed Arab, Somaliland’s Minister of Internal Security. The statement also revealed that Mustafa Muhumed Omar, President of Ethiopia’s Somali Region, had expressed regret over the events in Daawley.

In a startling turn, Somaliland reported that elders from its side, who were mediating the conflict, were abducted by regional forces. “The abduction of these peacebuilders is a clear affront to efforts aimed at resolving this crisis,” Somaliland’s government stated.

Ethiopian Authorities Remain Tight-Lipped

While regional leaders in Ethiopia have yet to comment on the incident, previous statements from the Somali Region’s security office have blamed similar violence on armed groups targeting police and officials. Earlier attacks in the region claimed the lives of security leaders and civilians, intensifying local tensions.

Somaliland and Ethiopia’s federal government have planned urgent talks at their shared border to address the conflict and chart a path toward peace. Observers warn that without immediate action, the violence could escalate further, deepening the humanitarian crisis.