Nairobi: About 8,500 members of Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group fled to neighbouring Kenya after the military said it “mistakenly” killed nine civilians and injured 12 others in a market town that straddles their border. The ethnic Oromo refugees, mostly women and children, began arriving in northern Kenya on March 10, Halkano Halake, spokesman for the governor of Marsabit county, said by phone. Combined, they pose the largest challenge to Ethiopia’s ruling coalition since it took power a quarter-century ago. Five members of Ethiopia’s military including a commander have been “disarmed and kept in custody for investigation,” Hassen said. Ethiopian forces closed the border with Kenya on March 10 and Kenyan police are patrolling entry points along the border, Halake said.

Source: Ethiopian News March 13, 2018 09:33 UTC