MOGADISHU (Halbeeg)- The Ethiopian government will deploy troops to ensure sanity is restored in Somali-Oromia border after the leaders of the two regions nodded.
Dozens of people from both sides have been killed and thousands displaced following months-long clashes between militias loyal to both regional states over a border dispute.
The leaders who held meeting over the border dispute between the two regions on Monday allowed the federal government of Ethiopia to dispatch troops to disputed areas.
According to Ethiopian State-owned Media, FANA, the leaders pledged to resolve their differences internally.
The leaders reportedly decided to organize a series of public conferences to find a lasting solution and strengthen people-to-people relations between residents of the two regional states.
Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian Prime Minister has ordered the military and police forces to intervene in the deteriorated situation and stop the escalating ethnic clashes.
The spokesman of the Ethiopian government, Ahmed Shide said the two leaders pledged to team up efforts with the federal forces end the conflicts.
Oromia and Somali share Ethiopia’s longest interior border, a meandering line from Moyale in the south to Mulu in the east.
Parts of the border follow the Ganale Doria River, but the regional boundary mostly stretches between the Oromia grasslands and Somali desert.
Despite close relations, the two ethnic groups have experienced intermittent conflicts over resources, including land and water, over the past 25 years.
In 2004, a referendum to decide on the fate of more than 420 kebeles – the country’s smallest administrative unit – gave 80% of them to Oromia.
Following the outcome, tens of thousands of ethnic Somalis reportedly fled the areas for fear of repercussions.
The decision has still not been implemented and this is one factor behind the current conflict.
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