On April 5, 2025, clashes occurred near Garbaissa town in Ethiopia between Somali pastoralists and Afar militias, about 10–15 km from the Awash-Djibouti main road. The attack resulted in two injuries and the theft of around 300 cattle. Garbaissa previously witnessed severe violence in July 2021, when nearly 400 civilians were killed in what was described as ethnic cleansing by Afar forces. Although leaders from both regions recently visited their capitals to present a peace agreement facilitated by the Ethiopian Muslim Affairs Council, the underlying causes of the conflict remain unresolved. Afar militias continue to occupy key grasslands and towns—such as Garbaissa, Undhufo, and Aydaytu—displacing thousands of Somali residents into poorly built camps. The conflict is further intensified by strained relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and by the Ethiopian National Defense Force’s support for Afar militias.
Breaking News: clashes occurred near Garbaissa town in Ethiopia between Somali pastoralists and Afar militias
