13-year-old killed in Moyale border and flag dispute

A 13-year-old girl has been killed in Moyale, a city straddling the Oromia and Somali regions, following clashes over border administrative rights and the raising of regional flags. According to Moyale Mayor Gelma Koropcha, the violence erupted after the Somali region illegally raised its flag on a government service building located within the Oromia region. The mayor stated that the teenager was shot while attempting to remove the flag. Conversely, sources familiar with the Somali regional side claim the conflict began after they were prevented from raising their flag on an office building located within their side of the administrative area. Both sides acknowledge that there is no legally demarcated boundary in the city, leading to long-standing administrative and infrastructure tensions. Despite these political disputes, residents of both regions are described as having deep-rooted social and communal ties.