Fighting on the Ethiopian side of Moyale threatens communities across the border.
Police report two more deaths on the Kenyan side as KDF clears unexploded grenades and thousands flee their homes.
Moyale border fighting intensified overnight on the Ethiopian side, with heavy gunfire and shelling threatening nearby Kenyan communities. Police reported two more deaths on the Kenyan side following the shelling.
At least 10,000 residents have left their homes in Moyale, Kenya, as stray bullets and rocket-propelled grenades reach residential areas. Meanwhile, refugees from Ethiopia continue to cross into the area.
The clashes involve Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional forces. A dispute over a regional office and flag triggered the conflict, which escalated in mid-October.
Moyale border fighting puts civilians at risk
Fighting intensified on November 13, with overnight videos showing homes burning on the Ethiopian side of Moyale. Reports also indicated that heavy artillery had hit civilian homes, with fires in Chatara and other areas.
Recordings captured sustained gunfire and blasts resembling heavy machine-gun fire and rocket launches. Meanwhile, intermittent fighting continued overnight near communities on both sides of the border.
As of November 13, at least 22 people had suffered injuries from stray bullets spilling over from Ethiopia. The reported death toll across both sides of the Moyale border stood at at least 12.
Hospital officials on the Ethiopian side said at least nine people died from injuries during the initial days of clashes. They attributed those injuries to heavy-weapons attacks. Across the border, Kenyan families also face danger from projectiles landing in their neighbourhoods.
KDF clears unexploded grenades in Moyale
The Kenya Defence Forces has intensified operations in the area as shelling spills across the border. On Friday, troops safely detonated 12 unexploded rocket-propelled grenades that had landed in Moyale.
However, stray bullets continue to threaten residents despite the disposal of those explosives. Security experts are urging people in border areas to avoid suspected explosive objects and remain alert. They also advise residents to report suspicious ordnance immediately to security agencies.
Meanwhile, the Kenya-Ethiopia border crossing at Moyale remains closed and under heavy security. Continued overnight fighting has heightened safety concerns for communities on both sides, alongside the displacement of Kenyan residents and arrivals from Ethiopia.
