Tens of thousands of Ethiopians flee into Kenya as Moyale clashes continue
A woman on the Kenyan side of the border town was killed by a suspected stray bullet on Monday.
Moyale — Fighting in the Ethiopian half of Moyale has driven tens of thousands of people across the border into Kenya over the past two weeks.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, citing local authorities, put the number at up to 50,000 in late October. Kenya's People Daily reports more than 40,000. Many people are staying with families in town rather than in camps, which makes an exact count difficult.
What is behind it
Moyale is jointly administered by Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regional states. The latest clashes were triggered by a dispute over the Somali regional flag in the town, on top of a long-running boundary dispute between the Borana (Oromo) and Garre (Somali) communities. Officials said more than 12 people were killed in the first days of fighting.
On Monday, 2 November, a 65-year-old woman on the Kenyan side of Moyale was killed by what police believe was a stray bullet from across the border.
The response
Registration of new arrivals began on 31 October at the Haroisa and OMC sites. UNHCR has given those arriving temporary international protection, and the Kenya Red Cross is helping with registration. Aid agencies say host communities need more resources.
Sources: People Daily, The Star, Al Jazeera, November 2026.
