Ethiopia and Kenya strive to realize sustainable peace, create national consensus and reconciliation between pastoralists in the borders of Moyale, the southern part of Ethiopia. This was highlighted during a regional conference held recently here in Addis Ababa.
Dr. Asfaw Kumssa, the Chief Technical Advisory (CTA) for Kenya-Ethiopia Area-Based Cross-Border Integrated Program in The United Nations Resident Coordinators Office in Nairobi told The Ethiopian Herald that, the main objective of the discussion during the conference focused on how to transform the region from conflict to sustainable peace through improving the livelihood of the people, bringing reconciliation, and ensure security in the cross-border area.
According to Dr. Kumssa, since the cross-border area is home to a large number of pastoralist community, conflicts flare up sporadically in the region as pastoralists scramble for pasture and water for their livestock.
Particularly, pastoralists from the Gare clan of Somali and the Borana Tribes of Oromo, confront each other in the border of Moyale inflicting death and displacement of people as well as destruction of property on both sides.’’
To solve the problem, the discussion and the dialogue play significant role to reduce conflict and improve the livelihood of the people sustainably.
According to Dr. Kumssa, close to 150 participants from the two countries actively engaged in the discussion in order to reach common understanding, which will help the participants to realize the intended goal. The participants of the conference included, among others, religious and local elders, women & youth groups, national and local
government officials, representatives of the business communities and civil societies.
Dr. Kumssa noted that the two countries signed Memorandum of Understanding to reduce conflict in sustainable manner and change Moyale into a special economic zone as per the agreement reached on December 2015 by former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalgne and the current Kenyan
President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Hon Dido Ali Rasso, Member of Parliament in Marsabit County, Kenya, who is participating in the conference and who is for the first time here in Ethiopia, on his part, said that the discussion is playing indispensable role to manage scarce resources in the border area of Moyale. Due to the scarcity of resources, pastoralists in both countries engage in recurrent conflicts.
He said, ‘’The issue needs to be discussed by leaders who could be able to bring sustainable solution to the problem by identifying the root causes of the problems and apply the right solutions without any bias.’’
He further added that conflict is not only the issue of the two countries; it is rather a matter of global agenda, due to impact that will affect people who live everywhere. In addition to this, the discussion and consensus reached during the current conference can also be used as a platform for future engagement, he added.
Nuru Dida, elder from Borana, Oromia Regional state of Ethiopia said that to ensure sustainable peace, the two countries should work hand in hand and realize sustainable peace & development. Conflict persists although elders from both sides frequently communicate with each other.
Though local elders resolve conflict through traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, the current conflict has become beyond their control, especially as the issue is related to land ownership.
According to him, to reduce conflict in sustainable way, the two governments should be committed to peace and continuously discuss with each other and reach common understanding.
It was remembered that the cross -border initiative was launched on December 2015 and co-funded by European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. The project also has a component of water, health, agriculture, and infrastructure development, among others. To support the peace-building component of the project, the European Union has provided 11.5 million Euro for the cross-border conflict resolution in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
The total project budget of the Ethiopia-Kenya cross border programmed is USD500 million. Out of this total budget, the governments of Ethiopia and Kenya pledged to contribute 10% of the total budget (USD50, 000) each. The remaining budget will be solicited from development partners.
The Ethiopian Herald April 20, 2019
BY MESERET BEHAILU
