By HASSAN HUKA hassan_huka@yahoo.co.uk
Posted Wednesday, January 4 2012 at 22:00
Posted Wednesday, January 4 2012 at 22:00
IN SUMMARY
- Groups are burning homes to ensure those who flee during clashes do not go back
Six people were killed in fresh tribal violence on Wednesday despite peace talks between warring communities in Moyale.
But unconfirmed reports put the number of dead at 10.
The victims include four children aged between four and seven who were killed in Hellu by men suspected to be hired from Ethiopia by a rival group.
An injured man was admitted to Moyale District Hospital.
Violence trigger
Eastern provincial police boss Marcus Ochola said the clash was triggered by youth who stormed out of a peace meeting when they disagreed over unspecified issues during the week-long talks.
The groups started hurling stones at each other, sparking a fight.
“Elders who remained behind could not reach any agreement when the youth started throwing stones outside the hall,” said Mr Ochola.
The stone-throwing incident left three people dead.
During the clashes, police used tear gas to disperse the youth and quell the violence but no one was arrested.
Later, the clash degenerated into a gun battle when armed men from both sides shot at each other.
Three more people died in the incident.
At night, more than 150 houses were razed to the ground in Hellu, Mansile and Odha by rival sides.
Mr Ochola said more security personnel had been dispatched from Moite in Loyangalani district to help the Moyale-based officers contain the situation.
Another group of officers was deployed in the area last week after fighting left five people dead.
The fighting has also disrupted transport in the district. No vehicle has left Moyale since Tuesday evening for fear of highway attacks.
Shop owners recorded low business as residents kept away from the border town due to tension.
Arson attacks
Rival groups are using arson attacks to displace more families, said Mr Osman Noora, a Moyale resident who talked to theNation by phone.
“This is new way of ensuring locals do not return to their homes even after clashes are contained,” said Mr Noora.
The fighting displaced more than 2,000 people from areas surrounding Moyale town.
At Odha trading centre, the epicentre of the violence that spread across the district, only the area chief, Mr Adan Wario, remained behind as locals fled to Butiye in Moyale town.
Villages such as Ades, Illadhu, Mansile are deserted.
More gunfire was heard from Kinisa yesterday but police were non-committal on what was happening.
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