Aid in Action

Mandera-Doolow-Gedo Cross Border Initiative

Representatives from Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia work toward peaceful coexistence.

Mandera, Kenya  | Tuesday, May 29, 2007

 

On May 15, 2007, District Commissioners and administrators from neighboring communities along the Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya borders met to launch the Mandera-Doolow-Gedo Cross-Border Peace Building Initiative in Mandera, Kenya.  The launch marked the beginning of the second phase of a peace building process started in 2004, which brought together communities from either side of the Kenya/Somalia border. This phase will expand work into Doolow District in Ethiopia, thus reaching communities throughout the tri-border area known as the Mandera Triangle.

The majority of the population in this region are pastoralists, who rely on their livestock for wealth and status in the community. Over the last few years, disputes over water and grazing rights and theft of livestock have led to increasing conflict and loss of life. Through the first phase of the peace building initiative, USAID and implementing partner Development Alternatives Inc. provided initial support that led to consultations, dialogues and workshops which have brought the communities closer together. Since then, mechanisms and structures have been set up to respond to incidents, helping the Mandera and Gedo communities to take responsibility for handling disputes. This has extended to the regional livestock market, now known as the Peace Market, which has a committee to help settle disagreements. The two communities were able to form a beneficial relationship and are working together to resolve disputes. The second phase of the initiative will now extend the relationship to communities in Ethiopia.

The initiative will aim to:

• Facilitate practical economic partnerships between the cross border communities by establishing and managing two Regional Peace Livestock Markets (the first is already established in Mandera);
• Expand basic services and undertake joint actions that promote peaceful coexistence;
• Promote dialogues and joint economic development by peaceful means; and
• Strengthen peace structures and establish a framework for dialogue at flash points for the management of cross border conflict and peace building to facilitate the establishment of community-based institutions and partner organizations for the coordination of peace building and conflict management.

On the day of the launch, representatives from Pastoralist Concern Association Ethiopia (PCAE), the Mandera District Peace Committee (MDPC) in Kenya, and the Gedo-NGO Consortium Belet/Hawo Somalia came together to support the objective of working towards a culture of tolerance in which different interests can coexist peacefully. Through their partnership, they hope to resolve conflicts along the borders of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia non-violently, responding quickly to the needs of the community.