Civilians Killed, 12 Injured 'Mistakenly' by Ethiopian Army

Kenyan authorities are receiving Ethiopians fleeing violence back home after security forces killed nine people and wounded a dozen others in a mistaken anti-terrorism fight.

According to the Command Post Secretariat, an investigation team, which includes senior Ethiopian defense force members, has been sent to the area were Ethiopian soldiers mistakenly killed and injured civilians in the southern part of the East African country.

An inquiry has been launched and the soldiers involved in the killings have been kept in custody.

At least 2,000 Ethiopian asylum seekers have fled to the north Kenyan town of Moyale, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) said yesterday.

"The asylum seekers began streaming in on Saturday, March 10, 2018, around 10pm, majority of them being women and children", KRCS said in a statement yesterday, adding that it had provided humanitarian assistance. "KRCS immediately released family kits (Tarpaulins, Kitchen sets, Mosquito nets, Bar soaps, Thermal Blankets and Jerrycans), which were distributed among the displaced families".

Top officials from the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) met on Sunday to start the process of choosing a replacement for Hailemariam, who will remain in his post until the succession is complete.

Ethiopia has been experiencing anti-government protests since 2016, mostly in the Oromia and Amhara region, where residents say they are being marginalised.