Kenya, neighbours in bid to end raids

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What you need to know:

  • In a 12-point communiqué after the Monday meeting, the ministers said they would be “committed to the establishment of strong institutional arrangements” that would ensure every campaign for peace or security is harmonised
  • In August, 10 people on the shores of Lake Turkana were killed by suspected Ethiopian bandits

Kenya has agreed with her neighbours to work together to bring peace to border areas with Ethiopia and South Sudan, in what appears to be the latest attempts to end perpetual raids in the region.

In a meeting held in Kampala on Monday and chaired by Uganda’s First Lady Janet Museveni, ministers in charge of security and regional relations from Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, agreed to “an integrated plan” to have communities living in those areas live in peace. (READ: Fishermen seek improved security in high season)

Mrs Museveni is also the minister for Karamoja region, one of the areas most ravaged by perennial tribal raids. Kenya’s Interior minister Joseph ole Lenku, South Sudan minister of Foreign Affairs Benjamin Marial and Mr Omod Obang Olom, Ethiopia’s minister of Federal Affairs attended. (READ: MPs protest against rising militia attacks)

In a 12-point communiqué after the Monday meeting, the ministers said they would be “committed to the establishment of strong institutional arrangements” that would ensure every campaign for peace or security is harmonised for the ‘Karamoja Cluster.’

The ‘Karamoja Cluster’ is an IGAD phrase used to describe the cross-border region of four member countries. They are south western parts of Ethiopia, north western Kenya mainly in Turkana, south eastern parts of South Sudan and north eastern Uganda.

In August, 10 people on the shores of Lake Turkana were killed by suspected Ethiopian bandits in Todonyang after they were reportedly ambushed by suspected Ethiopian bandits in Todonyang. (READ: Fishermen flee lake after raid)