Heavy fighting reportedly re-erupted this morning in parts of southern Ethiopia, particularly in the Hudeet district and the town of Moyale, where tensions between groups from the Somali and Oromo regions have persisted over recent days.
According to information obtained from local residents, Oromo regional forces entered the town of Malka Guba in Hudeet district, where they reportedly set fire to parts of the settlement.
Intense clashes were also reported to be ongoing in Malka Guba, though casualties resulting from the confrontation have not yet been independently verified.
Meanwhile, fighting was reported in parts of Moyale town and the areas of Malab and Jamuq, which are among the locations impacted by the heightened tensions.
Reports published on October 22 had previously confirmed heavy fighting in Moyale and other surrounding areas, with reports of homes and commercial properties being torched.
The security situation in southern Ethiopia has deteriorated over recent days, with confrontations impacting Moyale town and other settlements situated along the border zone where the Somali Regional State and Oromia Regional State meet.
Reports from the area indicate that this morning’s fighting reached Malka Guba, where local residents reported that locations in the town were set on fire.
However, specific details regarding the number of houses burned, property damage, and casualties remain unconfirmed.
Moyale has also faced a challenging security situation over recent days, with fighting disrupting the movement of people, trade, and transport.
A report published by the African Press Agency stated that fighting expanded to locations including Malab, Jamuq, and other areas in southern Ethiopia.
The tension in Moyale reportedly escalated following a dispute over an administrative office opened in the town and the hoisting of the Somali Regional State flag there on October 18, 2026.
A report published by the Addis Standard media outlet stated that the incident triggered a confrontation between forces from the Somali and Oromo regional sides, resulting in civilian deaths, including a 13-year-old girl.
Published reports noted that regional sides provided conflicting accounts regarding how the young girl died. Consequently, the exact circumstances surrounding her death and those responsible require an independent investigation.
The flag incident reignited pre-existing disputes over administration and land ownership in the Moyale corridor.
Such tensions occasionally escalate into armed confrontations when political grievances, territorial disputes, and mutual mistrust converge.
Civilians are among those facing the greatest risks arising from the fighting. Reports from Moyale indicated that homes and businesses were set on fire, with some residents fleeing their neighborhoods to escape gunfire and armed clashes.
Should the fighting continue or spread to other areas, the number of people forced to abandon their homes, businesses, and property is likely to rise.
To date, there are no official, independently verified numbers regarding those killed or injured in the fresh fighting in Hudeet and Malka Guba. Furthermore, the exact number of people displaced by this morning’s fighting in those areas remains unconfirmed.
Earlier reports from Moyale indicated that hundreds of people crossed the border and fled into Kenya, according to Marsabit County authorities and the Kenya Red Cross Society. Those displaced included women and children in urgent need of shelter, food, clean water, and medical care.
The fighting in Moyale has impacted residents living on both sides of the Ethiopia-Kenya border, as the town serves as a key commercial and social transit hub.
The Kenya Red Cross Society announced it has initiated relief efforts targeting families fleeing the conflict, with an initial plan aiming to assist 1,000 households. Emergency aid items include shelter kits, blankets, mats, water containers, and other basic relief supplies.
If fighting in Hudeet, Malka Guba, and surrounding areas persists, humanitarian needs are expected to escalate further. However, there is currently no verified data indicating that people displaced from Malka Guba have reached Kenya or other regional destinations.
Humanitarian organizations and regional authorities face the pressing need to assess the condition of affected families, particularly children, women, elderly individuals, and the wounded.
Although heavy fighting is being reported across several locations, available information does not yet provide a complete assessment of the casualties and damage resulting from the new confrontations.
There are no verified independent figures indicating how many individuals have been killed or injured in this morning’s fighting in Malka Guba, Moyale, Malab, and Jamuq. Likewise, no official report fully confirms the extent of property damage or the condition of residents remaining in active conflict zones.