The Oromo claim that the area is their ancestral land and that the Somali families had been brought in from Ethiopian Somali regional. The situation escalated when the two communities' clansmen started revenge attacks. The clashes involved heavily armed men on both sides in locations all along the border.

Is Somalis an Oromo?

Oromo and Somali belong to the eastern Cushitic linguistic family. Inhabiting the lowland semi-arid part of the Horn, the Somali are nomadic pastoralists. ... In fact, some Oromo groups, such as the Borana, maintained their traditional belief system.

Are Oromos Ethiopian?

The Oromos are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia (34.9% of the population), numbering about 37 million. They are predominantly concentrated in Oromia Region in central Ethiopia, the largest region in the country by both population and area. They speak Afaan Oromoo, the official language of Oromia.