NAIROBI (Somaliguardian) – Heavily-armed Afar militias seized control of the towns of Andhufo and Dal-lahelay in the western Sitti zone of Ethiopia’s Somali region on Friday following heavy fighting with regional forces.
Afar special forces are said to have taken part in the offensive, months after taking several other towns on a contested border between the two Ethiopian regions.
In response to the setback, the President of Ethiopian Somali region Mustafe Agjar replaced the chief of local paramilitary force and his deputy. The renewed clashes have come at a time the region is grappling with the brunt of an Islamist insurgency.
Videos circulated online showed Somali Liyu Police officers taken prisoners by the Afari militias and Afar forces celebrating in the streets of Andhufo and Dal-lahelay.
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