Somaliland and the Ethiopian government have reached an agreement to address the recent deadly conflict in the Dacawaley area of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, which has killed nearly 50 people over the past two weeks.
The deal was finalized Thursday during a high-level meeting in Jigjiga between senior Ethiopian officials, including General Afgado, commander of the Eastern Region, and Somaliland security representatives. The talks addressed violent clashes between Somali regional forces, backed by Ethiopian federal troops, and residents in the contested area.
“The two sides discussed the situation in Dacawaley and surrounding areas in depth. Both reached a full understanding to stop the bloodshed and resolve the conflict peacefully,” stated Somaliland’s Ministry of Security.
Key terms of the agreement include the Ethiopian federal army assuming control of security in Dacawaley, the removal of the Liyu Police from the area, and an investigation into reported abuses by the Liyu Police. The resolution also calls for a settlement of the underlying land dispute, which sparked the violence.
Tensions escalated on December 25 when Liyu Police forces attacked Dacawaley, killing civilians, burning homes, and abducting elders traveling from Hargeisa for peacekeeping efforts. Somaliland’s government condemned the incident as “genocide” and demanded accountability for those involved.
