Even though there was evidence that Somalis under Abdi Iley abused human rights,[11] the ruling government failed to do anything, even during Oromo protest in 2015-2016.

In 2004, a referendum to decide on the fate of more than 420 Kebeles, the country's smallest administrative unit, saw 80% go to Oromia, leading to Somali minorities fleeing those areas.

[12] Since April 2007 a major counterinsurgency campaign was started to suppress the low-level insurgents of the Ogaden National Liberation Front.

Human Right Watch reports evidence of Liyu police incursions in the Oromia Region.

[10] Clashes between the Boorana people and the Gheri, a Somali clan, occurred in early 2009 in the area of Moyale.

These was followed by the displacement of 50,000 Oromos[17] in the capital Jijiga which has a population of 125,000.The clashes involved heavily armed men on both sides in locations all along the border.

In February and March, hundreds were reported to have been killed in the southern Oromia district of Negele Borana, after an incursion by a paramilitary force called the Liyu police, which was backed by the ruling federal government, more than 100 people died and thousands were displaced in February and March in the Negele area.

[18] On 20 April 2017 the Oromia and Somali states of Ethiopia have signed an agreement to peacefully solve disputes.

[19] In spite of this agreement clashes erupted in September 2017, killing hundreds of the Oromo ethnicity and some on Somali side.