Ethiopian military forces have closed the border with the Somaliland following intense clashes between Somali regional troops and armed militias in the Harshin district in Somali region.
The fighting erupted in the rural area of Dacawaley on Tuesday morning. Security agencies have urged residents to remain indoors and avoid harbouring militia members.
Preliminary reports indicate casualties on both sides, though official figures have not yet been released.
The conflict reportedly began after the killing of Yocole district’s security chief and two of his bodyguards in a rural area between Dacawaley and Duudbaydale. A delegation dispatched to address the incident was subsequently attacked by gunmen, according to a statement from the Somali Regional State Security Office.
This comes hot in the heels of a meeting between the Minister of Internal Security of the Republic of Somaliland, Mr. Abdalle Mohamed Carab and the Ambassador of Ethiopia to the Republic of Somaliland, Ambassador Teshome Shunde Hamito.
During the meeting, they discussed the security issues concerning both countries and the overall security in the Horn of Africa region.
They also talked about strengthening the security cooperation between the Republic of Somaliland and the Federal Government of Ethiopia.
It was agreed to resolve the recent incident in the Dacawaley area of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia peacefully.
