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Fierce tribal fighting has broken out in eastern Ethiopia and is believed to have claimed dozens of lives, local sources told IRIN on Wednesday.
The clashes, between rival ethnic groups in the Afar Regional State, were sparked after one group accused the other of encroaching on its land. Skirmishes between the Afar and Issa communities have gradually increased over the years. The Afar accuse the Issa - who are tribesmen from Djibouti - of moving further and further into their territory.
The fighting was also blamed for triggering a fuel scare in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa as truck drivers refused to cross the region from the port of Djibouti. The fighting was centred on the main Djibouti highway from Gadamaitu to Giwane, a local source added.
However, the ministry of trade and industry said the fuel trucks were delayed because of heavy rains.
The source told IRIN that sporadic fighting broke out in early April and has continued throughout much of the month. The number of casualties is unknown, but some reports - which have yet to be confirmed - say at least 30 people have been killed.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
