A grenade explosion in the Ethiopian town of Moyale, has killed three persons and left scores wounded. Local media portals confirmed that the attack occured near a bus station.

Moyale is located in the Oromia regional state whose administrative & security bureau confirmed the incident and subsequently blamed it on security forces armed by the adjoining Ethio-Somali regional state.

Tensions between the two regional states has often been pinned on resource control. The last occurrence led to deadly clashes in September last year which situation killed hundreds and displaced close to one million people on both sides.

Even though the government has blamed it on anti-peace forces and rent seeking groups, Oromo activists have long blamed the Ethio-Somalia region’s paramilitary force known as ‘Liyu Police.’ The cause of today’s incident remains unknown as yet.

Update Moyale: 10 of those injured have been referred to hospitals across the boarder in Kenya. 4 have been sent to Yabello. — Jawar Mohammed (@Jawar_Mohammed) April 17, 2018

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed – an ethnic Oromo, was sworn into office on April 2, his first internal visit was to Jijiga, capital of the Ethio-Somali region where he promoted the need for inter-regional peace and coexistence.

Moyale, a town which shares a border with Kenya, made headline months back after security forces killed nine people in a botched intelligence operation. The situation forced thousands of residents to flee into Kenya.

PM Abiy, who took over from Hailemariam Desalegn, is tasked with political reforms and national unity drive for a country riled by anti-government protests since 2015. Ethiopia has declared two state of emergencies in under two years.

The current one was imposed on 16 February, 2018; a day after the resignation of Desalegn. PM Abiy has yet to make a pronouncement on the state of emergency in as many speeches since he took office.</s>Ethiopia Ends Web Blackout, Raising Hopes of Reforms Under New PM (Reuters)

Ethiopia's new prime minister Abiy Ahmed attends a rally during his visit to Ambo on April 11, 2018. (Photo: Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Internet users in Ethiopia said on Monday the government appeared to have ended a three-month online blackout, raising hopes of a relaxation of restrictions after the arrival of a new prime minister who promised reforms.

Mobile and broadband internet services shut down in December in many regions outside the capital that were hit by unrest that threatened the ruling coalition’s tight hold on country.

Rights groups accused the government of trying to stop them spreading news online and organizing rallies calling for land rights and other freedoms – charges the government denied.

But internet users said they had noticed services returning following the April 2 inauguration of Abiy Ahmed.

The communications minister and the state-run telecoms monopoly did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

“We are very happy that it is back to normal,” said Hassan Bulcha, who runs an internet cafe in Shashemene, a town in the state of Oromiya which has seen some of the worst violence since protests erupted in 2015.

Groups that monitor internet usage in Ethiopia – one of the last countries on the continent with a state telecoms monopoly – gave the news a guarded welcome.

“Restoration of Ethiopia’s internet is a short-term win in a long-term struggle,” said Peter Micek of Access Now, a group that said it recorded two large-scale internet shutdowns in Ethiopia in 2017 and three in 2016.

The move was a step forward, but worries remained about the government’s wider commitment to freedoms, said CIPESA (Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa), a Uganda-based body that lists Britain among its funders.

“It would be too optimistic to expect that the new prime minister’s government will overnight dismantle all the layers of authoritarian control that have for decades been at the center of state power in Ethiopia,” said Juliet Nanfuka from CIPESA.

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 Related:

 Ethiopia’s New Leader Makes Rare Outreach to Opposition (AP)

 In Ambo, Ethiopia PM Asks for Patience as He Seeks Change (AFP)

 Ethiopia’s new PM visits town that was center of anti-government protests (Reuters)

 Ethiopia PM gets huge welcome in Ambo (Africa News)

 US House Approves Ethiopia Resolution H. Res. 128 Amid Objection on Timing

 In Ethiopia Internet Returns, Maekelawi Closed, PM Visits Jijiga on Peace Mission

 Ethiopia Frees Re-Arrested Journalists (AP)

 A Charismatic Young Leader Tries to Calm Ethnic Tension in Ethiopia

 Herculean Task Awaits Abiy Ahmed on Human Rights in Ethiopia

 Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Delivers Hopeful Inauguration Speech (Video)

 Ethiopia Swears in New Prime Minister (AP)

 Ethiopia Seeks Calm With a New Leader (The New York Times)

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A grenade explodes in Moyale, Ethiopia, killing three people and injuring dozens.