Incident Report: Dacawalley Village Attack, December 25, 2024
Background
On Wednesday, December 25, 2024, a violent attack occurred in Dacawalley village, located within the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. Armed forces from the regional government targeted the civilian residents of the village. The attack was reportedly an act of retaliation for the killing of government soldiers a week earlier in the same village. The conflict stems from a longstanding dispute over grazing land between two local clans in the area.
Context of the Incident
At the time of the attack, traditional elders from Hargeisa, Somaliland, were present in the village. These elders had been dispatched to mediate and promote peace, as the residents of Dacawalley predominantly belong to the Isaaq clan, which has strong ties to Somaliland.
The Somaliland elders had urged the armed militias in the area to leave the village, emphasizing the need for peace. They communicated that the regional government was committed to resolving the dispute through dialogue and assured the residents of their safety. However, these assurances turned out to be deceptive.
The Attack
In the early hours of the morning, around 5:00 AM, heavily armed regional government forces, accompanied by militias, launched a brutal assault on the village. The attack resulted in the massacre of over 139 civilians, including children and the elderly. Many more were injured, with the number of wounded exceeding the fatalities. Some villagers were abducted and loaded onto vehicles, while others fled into the surrounding wilderness. The attackers set fire to the village, leaving it in ruins.
Aftermath
The Somaliland government promptly contacted Ethiopia's federal authorities following the tragedy, raising the alarm and requesting an urgent meeting. Survivors of the attack and the injured sought refuge in border villages on the Somaliland side, particularly in Balligubadle District, overwhelming the local communities with their numbers.
The Jigjiga Meeting and Resolutions
In response to the incident, a high-level meeting was convened in Jigjiga between the Ethiopian federal government and Somaliland officials. The following four key resolutions were reached:
- Withdrawal of Forces: Both sides agreed to withdraw their respective forces from the conflict zones.
- Federal Security Oversight: The Ethiopian federal government would assume responsibility for securing the affected areas, with federal troops to be deployed the following morning.
- Independent Committee Formation: An independent committee would be established to investigate the incident and mediate the dispute.
- Peace and Reconciliation Talks: The federal government of Ethiopia committed to facilitating reconciliation efforts and ensuring the success of the peace process.
This agreement aims to address the immediate security concerns and lay the groundwork for long-term stability and reconciliation in the region.