Monday, December 7, 2015
An armoured military vehicle patrolling a street in the border town of Moyale. President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn are Monday December 7, 2015 expected to launch a major programme to ensure peace along the Kenya-Ethiopia border. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
In Summary
- This comes amidst heightened insecurity on the border that has left about 30 people dead.
- Over 70,000 other have fled to Ethiopia.
- The feuds are usually fuelled by fight over water and pasture as well as theft of livestock.
By LUCAS BARASA
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President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn are on Monday expected to launch a programme aimed at enhancing peace along the border between the two countries.
This comes amidst heightened insecurity on the border that has left about 30 people dead.
Over 70,000 other have fled to Ethiopia. Some 100 houses were torched in late 2013.
The efforts follow a peace agreement signed in Nairobi in 2014.
The feuds are usually fuelled by fight over water and pasture as well as theft of livestock.
ETHIOPIA’S CROSS-BORDER OPERATIONS
The UN agencies have been working with local communities in addressing cause of the conflicts.
Peace along the border has been threatened by Ethiopian forces who cross into Kenya in pursuit of members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).
Last month, Kenya army and police officers were deployed along the border, in Sololo, Marsabit County after Ethiopian soldiers killed three police officers.
The soldiers entered the Kenyan territory and shot officers dead, destroyed a police vehicle and made away with four firearms in Anona, Marsabit.
They were said to have been pursuing members of the OLF accused of killing an Ethiopian chief, when they attacked Kenya police officers.
And on Saturday, a statement from UN resident coordinators Nardos Bekele-Thomas (Kenya), Ahunna Eziakonwa (Ethiopia) and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) executive secretary Mahboub Maalim said the initiative will help reduce insecurity in Marsabit and the Borana Zone.
The plan is spearheaded by Ethiopian and Kenyan governments, UN representatives in the two countries and Igad in collaboration with the private sector and development partners.
Ms Bekele-Thomas, Ms Eziakonwa and Mr Maalim said the initiative is expected to create opportunities for trade, investment and tourism, and ensure good use and management of resources.
It will improve infrastructure through Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopian Transport corridor, control cross-border conflicts, enhance cross-border movement of people and curb illegal human and arms trafficking.
Marsabit governor Ukur Yatani, Oromia Regional State President Muktar Kedir and World Bank regional delegate Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye are expected at the event.
Source = Daily Nation