- They resolved to foster peace and development in their region to address perennial conflicts affecting the community along the border and agreed to use local mechanisms to address conflicts.
- They noted that meaningful development can only be realized when there is peaceful coexistence among the different communities.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
Women, youth and elders in Elleborr, Elledimtu and Magadho in Ethiopia have jointly built far-reaching networks capable of sharing early-warning information on conflict and mobilizing de-escalation efforts to stem possible violence in the border areas.
They resolved to foster peace and development in their region to address perennial conflicts affecting the community along the border and agreed to use local mechanisms to address conflicts.
They noted that meaningful development can only be realized when there is peaceful coexistence among the different communities.
The border people share a common cultural background and heritage but they have been at loggerheads over the scarce water and pasture in their jurisdiction.
The three years Women for Peace project implemented by community initiatives facilitation and Assistance (CIFA) uses a conflict system-based approach to address the multiple causes of conflict in cross-border areas.
They promote peacebuilding, conflict management and conflict resolution capacity at the cross-border levels and strengthen community's efforts to manage and resolve conflict on the border peacefully.
CIFA hosts dialogue to help the once rival communities build trust and understanding to peacefully resolve problems and support women to ensure the project's results will last
"The swift coordination enabled us to track and return the lost camels to their owner. Our brothers from Kenya side have also demonstrated alot of goodwill that we all must emulate," Said Molu Godana, an elder from Magadho
Sori Adano from Forole championed a united community and vowed that she will team up with like-minded individuals to spearhead a reconciliation campaign urging residents residing in the border areas to rise above past tribal conflict as they seek amicable solutions that promote cohesion.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
Her counterpart from Magadho Adhi Jattani echoed the sentiment saying no meaningful development can be realised in the absence of peace.
"We must learn to dialogue and not engage in violent activities that disrupt peace whenever we have issues. We are all one community speaking in the same language," she said
Deputy County Commissioner Saningo Jonathan said the agreement between the community in the borderlines will support the sharing of resources and local authorities will be notified of any movement of stock or unlawful activities.
"It is important that the pastoralist communities from both Kenya and Ethiopia have agreed on where to keep their livestock to reduce tension. These communities must share resources and live together in peace," he said
Deputy sub-county administrator Mathew Lechapin lauded the partners in the initiatives, stating that its objective aligns with Governor Mohamud-led administration on peacebuilding.
"I have noted that one of the targeted results for the project is cross-border and inter-conflict management and it fits with Governor Mohamud's agenda on peacebuilding and conflict resolutions," he said
He noted that peace-building initiatives were crucial in Marsabit County because of its strategic location bordering both Ethiopia and Somalia.
"Together with partners, we will collaborate in strengthening cross-border community dialogue and institute early warning mechanisms for conflict prevention," said Mathew
He promised partners that the county government will strengthen strategic partnerships as Governor Mohamud embarks on delivering his promises.
Ethiopian's administrator Katelo Qotto said the demonstration of goodwill from the elders, women and young people who admitted their past shows that this is a community ready to embrace peace.
CIFA project coordinator in Kenya Simon Abduba said that approach involving women and elders would play a significant role in addressing cross-border conflicts.
He said the government from both sides have committed to supporting the peace initiatives by ensuring that the team from Kenya and Ethiopia meet regularly to lay the foundation for sustainable peace in the borderlines.
Simion said the bulk of capable of conflict is attributed to the scramble over pasture and water.
He lauded the elders and women from both countries for agreeing to work together in formulating sharing of resources and promise to continue sensitizing the border community on the benefits of promotion of cross-border trade and identifying criminals from their midst.
According to CIFA Kenya program officer Mr Halkano Abkula, women are often impacted by the skirmishes, bearing the brunt of conflict and paying a higher price for the devastation from increased gender discrimination to the waning gender-sensitive structures.
He said though they remain excluded from participating in the peace process despite overwhelming evidence showing women's involvement in peacebuilding leads to lasting peace, his organization CIFA engages them in the Peacebuilding process in the border region.
He said CIFA's objective is to enhance the capacities of both formal and informal cross-border stakeholders in conflict prevention and social cohesion with a particular focus on women and youth.
This is to enhance access to income-generating opportunities through inter-trade and sharing of resources for borderline community and work with the respective community and identifying causes of conflict prior to implementing conflict prevention.
"I work with local communities in conflict-affected areas. I know how all the hard work is done by women. I believe that women's participation in decision-making on the community level starts at home. We work systematically to break the existing gender stereotypes to empower women and show them how they can have a say in their communities," he said
He described the recently launched three years project as a step towards the realization of lasting peace among the locals and cross-border community in the region,
CIFA Ethiopia project officer Garbicha Nura said the hiding of criminals has largely contributed to conflicts and urged residents to cooperate with security agencies from both sides to foster peace by revealing the identities of criminals whose illegal operations undermine peace-building efforts.
He said it would be an exercise in futility if residents refused to share crucial information on crime.
Hussein Miyo, HEKs representative whose organization facilitated the engagement in collaboration with Action for Development divulged that both CIFA Kenya and Ethiopia were working on strengthening grassroots levels of consultation in promoting sustainable peace at the border.
"We brought the community together to discuss how they can identify challenges that may trigger violence and find ways to overcome them so that there can be peaceful coexistence. We are pleased that the community came up with mutually agreeable local mechanisms where they can address and manage any issues that may arise to prevent conflicts," said Hussein
He said HEKS will continue supporting peacebuilding and conflict resolutions as the only way for the community to prosper development which has been hampered by perennial conflicts.
CIFA's Women for peace project was supported by Australia Development Agency.