JigJiga, Ethiopia (Horn Observer) Somali Regional State in Ethiopia has protested against the country's National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE)'s move to suspend voters' registration process in 30 polling stations in eight villages.

In a letter addressed to NEBE, the state presidency said it would find it difficult to participate in the upcoming elections without the resumption of the voters’ registration process in the villages.

The state also accused the board of trying to fulfill "Afar region’s unreasonable demands” by ignoring the facts provided by Somali regional state.

According the letter by Somali state, the villages are Adayle, Adayitu, Alale, Danlehelay; Undufo; Garbaise; Afuase and Medeni.


The development comes barely a week after Afar regional state submitted letter to the poll agency, demanding the villages be listed under its administration.

Somali and Afar states in Ethiopia had a long-protracted dispute over a boundary which several times culminated in armed confrontation.

The two state have been trading accusations over the cross-border attacks that claimed lives of hundreds of people from both sides.

Late 2020, Jigjiga authorities accused Afar region of attacking villages in Somali region where over ten people including soldiers were killed.

The villages reportedly attacked were Helei Kebele, Afdem Woreda.

In 2014, the federal government redrew the boundary between the two states and transferred three small towns to Afar that Somali has since wanted back but in 2019, Somali authorities turned down the implementation the transfer of three villages to Afar region.