The East African Community (EAC) is making strides toward enhancing peace and cooperation along the borders of Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan, a region characterized by its rich cultural diversity yet marked by historical disputes. This week, the EAC will host a one-week high-level peace forum bringing together communities from these nations to build upon previous efforts to mitigate conflict, promote peaceful coexistence, and strengthen economic cooperation.
Held from October 30 to November 7, 2024, the forum will address tensions and challenges among the Ateker communities at the tri-junction where Kenya’s Turkana, Uganda’s Karamojong, and South Sudan’s Toposa and Didinga converge. This culturally rich region has a history of boundary disputes, often fueled by resource competition, land ownership conflicts, and cross-border incidents such as cattle rustling. The forum will revisit resolutions from the EAC Peace Caravan of July 2023 and introduce a structured approach for implementing long-term peace initiatives.
The Significance of the Ateker Border Communities’ Forum
The tri-junction area between Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan is unique due to its convergence of diverse communities who share centuries-old histories, languages, and cultural practices. Yet, despite these shared identities, unresolved historical and economic tensions have strained relations, with incidents of violence and competition over resources impacting the area’s stability. The EAC’s Ateker Border Communities’ Forum aims to transform this dynamic, using dialogue to foster mutual understanding and cooperation while addressing practical issues like security, resource sharing, and infrastructure development.
According to Andrea Malueth, the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors, the peace caravan launched last year has already yielded encouraging results by building trust and reducing violent incidents across these communities. “Since the peace caravan, no major incidents of violence have occurred among the communities,” said Malueth. “This current mission builds on that momentum, focusing on dialogue to address root issues such as land ownership, resource sharing, and historical claims.”
The one-week forum, which opens in Moroto, Uganda, has been carefully structured to involve community leaders in a series of discussions, reviews, and sensitization activities aimed at fortifying peaceful coexistence. By the end of the event, a new sensitization program will be launched, underscoring the EAC’s commitment to a long-term peace strategy through grassroots engagement.
A Roadmap to Lasting Peace
The 2024 forum will emphasize the importance of reviewing and adopting a draft framework that has been designed to guide the implementation of peace resolutions. These resolutions, derived from the EAC Peace Caravan’s objectives, are centered on sustainable conflict resolution, enhanced security coordination, and economic cooperation across borders. Community leaders will be presented with this framework, which, once approved, will serve as the foundation for future peace-building activities.
Key Objectives of the Forum:
- Review of the EAC Peace Caravan Resolutions: In July 2023, the EAC Peace Caravan laid out resolutions addressing the root causes of tension among Ateker communities. This week’s forum will formally present these resolutions to community leaders for their endorsement and feedback.
- Draft Implementation Framework: Community leaders will discuss and refine a draft framework for implementing the resolutions, which include conflict resolution strategies, resource-sharing agreements, and security protocols.
- Border Community Sensitization Program: The EAC will launch a sensitization program focused on peace, prosperity, and good neighborliness. The program will include workshops, educational campaigns, and cultural exchanges to promote understanding and harmony.
To facilitate the sensitization program, community leaders from each nation will join hands in Moroto to address topics such as peaceful coexistence, security coordination, and resource sharing. The program will then proceed to Lokichogio, Kenya, and Narus, South Sudan, before concluding with a two-day review session in Lodwar, Turkana County in Kenya.
Addressing Key Challenges
One of the most significant issues to be tackled at the forum is land ownership and resource sharing, a historical challenge that has fueled territorial disputes and, at times, violent confrontations. At the heart of the discussions will be strategies for fair distribution and shared access to critical resources like water and pasturelands, which are essential to the nomadic and pastoralist lifestyles of these communities. By creating a framework that ensures equitable access to these resources, the EAC hopes to address some of the primary causes of conflict in the region.
The forum will also delve into the issue of security coordination. In recent years, incidents of cattle rustling and cross-border attacks have strained relations between communities and hampered economic growth. With a renewed commitment to enhancing security measures, the EAC and border communities are expected to discuss improved information-sharing practices, cross-border patrols, and the establishment of rapid-response units to respond to security threats. The anticipated outcome is a safer, more cooperative environment that allows communities to focus on development and prosperity.
Moreover, economic cooperation will be a focal point of the discussions, as the EAC aims to foster increased cross-border trade and infrastructure development. Enhanced economic ties can provide these communities with alternative livelihood opportunities, reducing the likelihood of resource-based conflicts. By building shared markets, improving roads, and investing in sustainable development projects, the EAC hopes to create an environment where economic interdependence can reinforce peace efforts.
Promoting Cultural Exchange and Unity
While resolving tangible issues like land ownership and security is essential, the EAC also recognizes the importance of cultural exchange in building unity among these communities. The Ateker Border Communities’ Forum will include cultural events that celebrate the traditions, art, and histories of the Turkana, Karamojong, Toposa, and Didinga people. These cultural exchanges, supported by the African Union and GIZ, are intended to help community members see beyond their differences, fostering mutual respect and appreciation for each other’s unique heritage.
By highlighting the shared traditions and cultural values of these communities, the forum seeks to build a foundation of empathy and understanding. This cultural approach is essential to addressing deeply rooted conflicts, as it allows individuals to reconnect with their neighbors on a personal level, ultimately strengthening the social fabric of the region.
Moving Forward: Expected Outcomes and Long-Term Impact
The Ateker Border Communities’ Forum represents a significant step forward in the EAC’s commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous region. The outcomes of this forum are expected to resonate well beyond the event itself, setting a precedent for conflict resolution and cooperative development in East Africa.
Immediate and Long-Term Impacts:
- Peaceful Coexistence: With the endorsement of the resolutions and implementation framework, the tri-junction region can anticipate a reduction in tensions and a stronger culture of peace.
- Economic Growth: Enhanced cross-border trade and infrastructure development will contribute to regional prosperity, offering communities more sustainable livelihood options.
- Improved Security: Coordinated efforts to address security challenges will create a safer environment, reducing incidents of cattle rustling and cross-border violence.
- Cultural Unity: Through ongoing cultural exchange initiatives, community members will develop a stronger sense of unity, fostering mutual respect and reducing the likelihood of future conflicts.
The forum’s conclusion in Lodwar will serve as a milestone for tracking the progress of the sensitization and implementation programs. As the resolutions and framework are operationalized, the EAC plans to monitor developments closely, offering additional support to ensure that the initiative continues to thrive. A follow-up meeting has already been proposed, signaling the EAC’s long-term commitment to peace and development in the Ateker region.
In a region often impacted by historical tensions, the EAC’s peace initiative offers a hopeful vision for the future, one where communities can coexist peacefully, thrive economically, and preserve their unique identities. By promoting dialogue, understanding, and shared goals, the Ateker Border Communities’ Forum marks a promising path toward lasting peace and unity for Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan’s border communities. As the sensitization program unfolds, the EAC and its partners remain steadfast in their mission to transform the tri-junction area into a beacon of cooperation and harmony in East Africa.
