Ethiopia, Kenya agreed to enhance border security, curb tribal clashes
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
June 6, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia and Kenyan officials who have been gathering in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, signed an accord to strengthen security along their common border following their four-day ministerial meeting on 2 June.
The meeting “made commitment for the enhancement of security along common borders by addressing the challenges created by anti-peace elements, competition for scarce resources and the proliferation of small arms,” said a joint statement.
The two countries “addressed the issue of shared trans-boundary resources and their utilization, especially shared waters, taking into account the guiding principles of equitable use and ensuring no significant harm to downstream areas and peoples.”
The two neighbouring countries have also agreed to push on infrastructure and development projects connecting the two countries including “in electricity, roads, railways, information communication and technology as well as civil aviation.”
Such tribal clashes are common at the shared border, mainly caused over resources such as pasture. However the extent of the latest clashes has raised security concerns.
Officials of the two countries have made it clear that the tribal conflicts do not represent confrontation between states.
Many members of the Kenyan Turkana tribes reportedly cross the border to Ethiopia on daily bases to purchase food from Merrile villagers and sometimes misunderstandings between the two sides lead to clashes.
Following the recent deadly clashes, the Kenyan government has began distributing food to Turkana villagers to deter them from travelling to Ethiopia in search of food.
(ST)