Liyu Police
| Liyu Police | |
|---|---|
| ልዩ ኃይለ Ciidamada Liyuu | |
| Active | April 2007—present |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Allegiance | Somali |
| Branch | Ethiopian Regional Special Forces |
| Type | Paramilitary Gendarmerie |
| Role | Gendarmerie Reserve army Counter-insurgency Internal security Light infantry |
| Size | 10,000–14,000 (2013) 42,000 (2017) |
| Garrison/HQ | Jijiga |
| Equipment | AK-47 AKM Type 56 RPK PKM RPD DShK Dragunov SVD FN FAL RPG-7 WZ-551 |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Founder | Abdi Mohamoud Omar (Abdi Iley) |
| Former commander | Abdirahman Abdillahi Burale (Abdirahman Labagole) |
| Former commander | Mohamed Ahmed Mohamud |
The Liyu Police (Amharic: ልዩ ኃይለ, Somali: Ciidamada Liyuu; liyu meaning "special" in Amharic) is a gendarmerie and paramilitary force operating in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Established in 2007 by the regional government of the Somali Region in collaboration with the federal government of Ethiopia, the force was created as a counter-insurgency force to fight ONLF insurgents during the Insurgency in Ogaden and counter cross-border threats from neighboring countries.
The Liyu Police is part of the Ethiopian Regional Special Forces and has become one of the most controversial and polarizing forces in Ethiopia, where it has gained notoriety for its brutal counter-insurgency operations and methods, as well as allegations of human rights abuses.