Deadly ethnic violence in around Bule-Hora

Ethnic clashes in and around Bule-Hora (formerly called Hagere Mariam), the largest town between Dilla and Yabello are reported to have left at least 12 people dead and 15 others injured. An old conflict between the agro-pastoralist Guji Oromos and the sedentary Burji people broke out since yesterday, and continued until Friday, according to witnesses.
A member of the Burgi tribe, Ibraz Rito, who is currently in the Moyale side of Kenya, told Ethiopia Observer by telephone that armed Guji warriors descended on Rallaya village, close to Soyoma, which is 60km west of Bule Hora and carried out killing and looting of Burjis. Ibraz said his own father was one of the victims, heavily wounded, after attacked on his neck. Since health centres in the area were closed, he was being treated at home, he said.
The nearby market place called Robi was burned and many houses were razed. Though government security forces were there, they have not intervened to stop the fighting, the witness accused.
Clashes between the two ethnic groups are common over land and water, but the latest fighting has been unusually heavy.
There were reports of heavy clashes in the Ethiopian-Kenyan border town of Moyale yesterday, between Garri tribe and Borana, with several wounded and scores displaced. The clashes, which started two days ago, have displaced hundreds to temporary camps on the Kenyan side of the border.