ESAT News (October 3, 2017)

Displacement of Oromos and Somalis in Eastern Ethiopia continued despite statement by authorities that they had put an end to the crises that was sparked by land dispute between the two ethnic groups.

The number of Oromos displaced from the Somali region and Somaliland has reached 70,000. But the numbers of Somalis displaced from the Oromo region remains unknown.

The national defense forces were seen accompanying Somalis leaving the Oromo region, according to reports by local media.

Rayis Abamecha, an Oromo displaced from Jijiga said he left behind a hotel that he owns and Jijiga was the only place he knew. The father of four said his money and valuables were looted. He said the looting and displacement was happening while members of the defense forces looked on.

Close observers of the crises blame security forces of the regime for having a hand in instigating clashes between the two ethnic groups.

ESAT News (October 4, 2017)

There has been no effort by the regime to return home tens of thousands of Oromos and Somalis who were displaced due to recent ethnic clashes.

According to sources who closely follow developments in Eastern Ethiopia, the regime, that stands accused of instigating the violence, has done nothing to return home the over 70,000 thousand Oromos sheltered in camps or the unknown number of Somalis displaced from the Oromo region. Neither is there any plan to help and compensate the displaced.

Observers of the development say the two regional governments were setting a bad precedent in letting the crises to go out of hand.

Ethnic violence sparked by dispute over resources and land between the two communities has resulted in the displacement of thousands of people and scores of deaths in the last few weeks alone.