Eleven civilians, the majority of whom cattle farmers (agropastoralists), were killed by members of the Afar regional state special forces, Mustefa Omer, president of Somali regional state confirmed to Addis Standard. The incident occurred in Sitti zone, Somali region of Ethiopia,  in Madane Kebele,

Earlier several individuals with family ties in the area presumed that the civilians were killed by members of the Liyu Police, the information confirmed by local authorities.

Clashes between militia in Afar and Somali regional states have been recurring in recent months causing protest demonstrations from both sides.

Amnesty International has reiterated their demand to the government of Ethiopia to disband a police unit which is accused of carrying out human rights abuses in the Somali and Oromia regions of the country.

The Liyu police unit was established by the Somali regional government as a counter-terrorism force but has on several occasions been accused of complicity in an ethnic conflict between Oromos and Somalis.