The Abyssinian Question: (2) Ethiopia was teeming with weapons spread among tribal members, especially in the border regions. The neighboring colonies, British, French, and Italian, suffered from border incursions by the "Shifta" gangs for looting and theft. The borders themselves were a cause of many disputes and a factor of tension and instability. Coupled with Italian intentions seeking a pretext for invasion, the Walwal incident was a natural outcome of this situation.

By March 18, 1934, Italian intentions were clear. In early 1934, Mussolini declared from the Fascist Committee headquarters in Rome: "In this situation, I am determining the future of Italian generations, and there is no question about our invasion of African territories. This must be understood by all European countries that have economic interests in Africa. We must be extremely cautious at this juncture before making any military decisions. However, if we make our military decision, we will move forward and never think of retreating or falling back." By July 31st, all our motives, such as the abolition of slavery and the introduction of civilization in Abyssinia, must be put into effect.

Mussolini also stated in the same speech that after five months, by August 18th, Italy must begin expanding in Africa because it is a strong nation that needs raw materials to advance its industry and seek an outlet for its emigrants, so that it can compensate for its delay in obtaining its share of African colonies, which he attributed to the weakness of its previous governments and their hesitation in foreign economic expansion.

All indications pointed to the fact that the "Walwal" region belonged to Ethiopia. In the barren Ogaden desert, where water is essential for its nomadic inhabitants, camel herders, the Italian governor of the Somalia colony began expanding the borders to include this region since 1926. Italian patrols began reaching the region, and in 1929 and 1930, the Italians systematically built military posts around it and effectively occupied it. Emperor Haile Selassie sought to regain control by providing one of the Somali tribal leaders loyal to Ethiopia in the region, Omar Samantar, with weapons and funds to recruit a militia to reclaim the area and expel the Italians. The situation in the region became tense, and when a joint British-Ethiopian committee arrived there on November 20, 1934.