For example, in the current Mandera conflict, the local peace committees were at best unsure of how to respond to the conflict or at most became hostage to the interests of their clans and political elites. In February 1984, soldiers of the Kenya Army mounted a security operation around Wajir in Kenya's North Eastern Province. A paradigm shift in conflict management and governance is needed for this region to realise the full benefits of devolution. Members of the clan primarily inhabit Kenya, but also large part of southern Ethiopia and places in southern Somalia. The rising incidents of violent attacks which clan … Garre, Murulle, Degodia; and ‘corner tribes.’ There is a sedentary agrarian population along the Daua River, and pockets of agro-pastoralists in better-watered sites. Equally, addressing the realities of conflict and marginalisation in northern Kenya cannot succeed without dealing with the past. The implementation of the recommendations of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report will be key to this. One such avenue is the empowerment of the newly constituted Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA). Like many Somalis, Degoodi members trace their paternal ancestry to Samaale, through their Gardhere ancestor. 1 0 obj Wabar Abdille Abdi, 78, will jet into the country on Friday from Ethiopia, the statement added. 14 Oct 2014. %µµµµ Unsurprisingly, the election campaigning was characterised by hate messages, displacement of voters, formation of inter and intra clan alliances and the magnification of resident-migrant dynamics including a political pact between the Garre and Murule clans (these two clans have a history of conflict and this pact was meant to temporarily address this.) Away from the media’s focus on Al-Shabaab attacks in Kenya, a deadly conflict involving two Somali clans, Degodia and Garre, has been raging in Mandera County in North Eastern Kenya. The most widely known and most serious was the massacre by security officers in February 1984 of more than five hundred men of the Degodia clan at the Wagalla airstrip. The indigenous conflict management mechanisms have neither the experience nor the capacity to deal with political conflicts. The new county governments and the political and economic largesse that comes with them are, if not managed equitably, likely to further exacerbate existing conflicts in the poor and conflict-prone counties of northern Kenya. -. Likewise in Wajir, Somali Degodia trespassed on Somali Ajuran pastures, a common cause of tension between the two groups during the colonial period which was a persistent problem for Kenyan security forces during the insurgency. 5 When Kenya achieved her independence the conflict persisted. The northern region has lagged behind the rest of Kenya in the last fifty years due to conflict, poverty and marginalisation. Since militias and arms flows from the neighbouring countries are part of the conflict system in northern Kenya, there is a need for co-ordination of national and county peacebuilding architectures and initiatives with regional ones. The IPOA recommendations on Eastleigh should be immediately implemented and be used as a guideline for future security operations in northern Kenya (as well as the rest of Kenya.). Subsequently, the Garre clan not only regained the Mandera Central parliamentary seat, but also won an overwhelming majority of political seats in Mandera including the key posts of Governor and Senator. Members of Jibrail sub clan, degodia clan of the Somali community have endorsed Eldas MP Adan Keynan as their preferred candidate for the constituency in … Peace education, Dialogue and mediation, and Research, Culture, media and advocacy, Peace education, and Children and youth. While clan conflicts are not new to the area, the intensity of the latest flare up (including deliberate targeting of children and women in violation of Somali social norms in clan wars) raises fundamental questions about the newly devolved system of county governance and its impact on conflict dynamics and peacebuilding architecture in northern Kenya. A new national peace policy that harmonises the existing peace infrastructures with the new county governance structures is yet to be fully implemented. Wabar leads the Degodia clan globally. Aden Abdi. 4 0 obj With the underlying causes of the 2008 conflict unaddressed and with higher political stakes in the 2013 elections - more powerful elective posts under the new county governments as well as the creation of an additional three parliamentary seats following a review of the electoral boundaries in 2010 - it was only a matter of time before a new cycle of violence erupted. However, the Garre and the Degodia stand out as the two had adverse relations for several decades. Already efforts are underway by Ethiopian authorities to recover more than 100 camels stolen from the herders. 44 In 1991, the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in Somalia, the consequent migration of people and arms into Wajir, and the withdrawal of government security from the region and rescinding of emergency … ÊX…A"gÞl~læ³åVmDók>ÓBáOJH"”¬ÍŸùL‰ßôØÍgoų\]ld,銪‘©hð«r‹ó×ö¸ôcƒú´—mxÿ"Šæi>Û ÏÇfpæ´'77ÞÞ Farmaajo’s Somalia Suspected of Resurrecting Secessionism in Northeastern Kenya. But with the creation of the county governments and the changing nature of conflicts, the effectiveness and impartiality of these local peace structures have been questioned. The mandate of this committee needs to go beyond addressing immediate issues of the conflict. The study adopted an exploratory research design. Cross-Border Issues and Treatment in Border Regions of Kenya-Somalia KNA BB/ / , Special Branch groups, on the one hand, and Sakuye and Boran groups, on the other. The Hawiye (Somali: Hawiye, Arabic: بنو هوية ‎, Italian: Haouia, English: Hawiyah) is a major Somali clan.Members of the clan traditionally inhabit central and southern Somalia, Somali Region and the North Eastern Province (currently administered by Ethiopia and Kenya, respectively). xœ•VÉnÛ0½ð?ð(ñ˜;Åö¤x«“Ône¹ôڞúÿ×Ό$Ë Ahmed Khalif Mohamed who was a Degodia by tribe was elected the Member of Parliament for Wajir West constituency. Away from the media’s focus on Al-Shabaab attacks in Kenya, a deadly conflict involving two Somali clans, Degodia and Garre, has been raging in Mandera County in North Eastern Kenya. That’s why our library of resources, stories and research is free to read, share and download. Mr Mohamed unseated Billow Kerow (current senator for Mandera county) from the Garre clan, the majority clan in Mandera and previous occupants of this seat. MANDERA COUNTY: The perennial conflicts between the Garre and Degodia clans of Mandera and Wajir counties have been attributed to political … Rumours are already circulating in Wajir town that the Degodia have sent men to neighbouring Somalia to buy guns and get help from related Somali clans. clan conflict in Northern Kenya increases. Submit an organisation: Is Peace Insight missing a peacebuilding organisation or initiative? The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) with the guidance of their Intelligence Chief has been propping … Extremist recruitment in northeast Kenya is not based on clan membership, but extremist actors can take advantage of the close ties across the Kenya-Somalia border and the porous nature of the border to operate in both countries. Gun control is a significant problem in the NEP. The latest attacks are linked to a local militia believed to be from the Degodia clan which attacked Shobtoy village in Doomal, inhabited by the Garre. The Mandera Somalis divide themselves traditionally into four ‘clan’ groupings, the . The current conflict, however, began in 2008 following the election of Abdikadir Mohamed from the Degodia clan as the Member of Parliament for Mandera Central Constituency. The Gharri community voted for him as a block. In its absence (the report is pending with President Kenyatta since May 2013), other short-term mechanisms need to be put in place. This win-lose mentality is rooted in a “resident-migrant” dynamic that has shaped politics in Mandera for a long time, Aden Abdi is the Programme Manager for Horn of Africa region with Conciliation Resources, a London-based peacebuilding NGO. While the Somali government has been vocal in accusing Kenya of interference in its internal affairs, it is now emerging that it is actually Somalia that is actively sponsoring secession of some communities in Northern Kenya. endobj The control of large budgets and political influence that comes with parliamentary and county government posts has turned competitive politics in the region into a zero sum game. Degodia King Wabar Abdille on Tuesday received 101 camels from the Saransoor community living in Wajir county. stream endobj While the Somali government has been vocal in accusing Kenya of interference in its internal affairs, it is now emerging that it is actually Somalia that is actively sponsoring secession of some communities in Northern Kenya. Prior to his visit to Wajir, the Degodia leader was last week at State House Nairobi where he was hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta. In the ensuing elections of 1979 Hon. In 1992, the demographically ascendant Degodia clan sought 3 “Kenya’s Killing Fields,” The Nation (July 14 2005). This is a clear indicator that the flag is aimed at uniting the Degodias living in Northern Kenya and those in Somalia in a concerted effort of rooting for the secessionist agenda and undermining Kenyan national security. The causes of the persistent clan-based conflicts in Northern Kenya are not well known and ascertained. Aden Abdi argues that a mixture of robust conflict management, good governance and addressing historical injustices are key to a durable solution, not just in Mandera but also across the whole of northern Kenya. It’s the failure to deal with the past abuses and violations that are fuelling new abuses such as those witnessed in the Eastleigh security operation as well as Marsabit and Mandera conflicts. January 17, 2021. He can be reached at aden.m.abdi@gmail.com. This article is written in his personal capacity and does not reflect the views of Conciliation Resources. The rising incidents of violent attacks which clan-based conflict can be partially blamed, which this study attempted to explore. A sustainable peace in northern Kenya requires a multiple, sustained and complementary efforts at the national, regional and local levels. <> The Degodia and Garre clans have a long history of conflict and violence that are documented even in colonial records. <> The current conflict, however, began in … Already efforts are underway by Ethiopian authorities to recover more than 100 camels stolen from the herders. The intercommunal clashes resurfaced in this area near the Kenya-Ethiopian border with revenge attacks fueling violence across borders. They also surprisingly won - and this was the main trigger for the current conflict - the new Mandera North constituency in the largely Degodia-dominated areas. The study involved qualitative approach of data collection. <> There is also a need to support local capacities for peace deal with political conflicts. In Wajir-West constituency, tensions between the Degodia and Ajuraan had already led to an alarming level of assassinations in the 1980s, rendering the area one of the most unstable in Kenya. Beyond the clan rivalries and exclusionary politics, the current Mandera conflict also comes against a backdrop of changing peacebuilding architecture in the region. This was highly resented by the Ajuran who felt that the area was their strong hold. Devolution offers a real chance to address these issues, but conflicts such as those in Mandera and Marsabit represent a risk to real development in the region. The target population comprised of clan elders (Degodia, Ogaden and Ajuran), security The causes of the persistent clan-based conflicts in Northern Kenya are not well known and ascertained. At the local level, the President’s appointment of an external mediation team is a welcome move. This should promote practical mechanisms for accountability and redress for communities such as courts, recall of elected leaders, participation in budgetary and audit processes, use of county assembly (“local parliament”) channels among others. The Degodia and Garre clans have a long history of conflict and violence that are documented even in colonial records. This study therefore, focused on inter-clan conflicts between the Degodia and the It continued: “The objective of the visit is to enhance unity and harmony […] Degodia is a peaceful community who live in many parts of kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and many parts of the world. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S>> Degodia clan, ODM split as elders endorse Jubilee's Mohamud for Wajir governorship The clan elders' endorsement earned Mr Mohamud accolades from ordinary people and other aspiring leaders who attended the colourful event in this border town, thrusting the ambassador to the front-runner status in a race shaping up as a tight three-horse contest. Inter-clan fighting in Ethiopia has always ended up spilling into Kenya since both Degodia and Garre clans live across Kenya-Ethiopia border. While clan conflicts are not new to the area, the intensity of the latest flare up (including deliberate targeting of children and women in violation of … separation. The Degodia are criticising the current official response and security operation as "poor" and "insufficient". 6 For instance in Wajir County, the members of Degodia and Ajuran clans fought each other for long. We believe the stories of people building peace should be accessible to all and easy to find. The worst of these conflicts ended in the Wagalla massacre of 1984, in which 400 Degodia men, women They are genealogically related to the other Samaale, but in particular to the Garjante, Gaalje'el, Masare, Isa (Saransor) and 'Owrmale, with which they share the same anc… Civic education programmes focusing on the rights and responsibilities of communities and civic groups in the county governments should be supported. The Degoodi or Degodia (Somali: Degoodi or Degoodiya, Arabic: دغودي‎) is a Somali clan. Permanent water sources are rare and the amount of water available from boreholes These includes IGAD’s Conflict and Early Warning and Response Network (CEWARN), Kenyan military intervention in Somalia, repatriation plans for the Somali refugees and Kenyan-facilitated peace talks in the Somali region of Ethiopia (Ogaden). NAIROBI—The Wabar (king) of the Degodia clan is set for his first visit to Kenya on Friday November 29, a statement seen by Kulan Post indicates. of Kenya registered several inter clan conflicts with Somali sub tribes fighting over resources. At the national level, the government needs to urgently implement the National Policy on Peace-building and Conflict Management drafted by the National Steering Committee for Conflict Management and Peacebuilding (NSC) in December 2011. ‘ÁZg ¹Ÿ ê;X]*ð^‹Gzìš*||E^ž‰®NH\ëâ¸Å|M¼z °(È:GEEPåØü"‡ÕtcW/è ¢l±ÏÕñ°•Ú/œ/æÕô|yÈP_é…ÓÏ §¥/ג䓑 i”MUhw”[¬÷3ÐV9­Ûé[»ª®q«uƒßCÂÚd¶¹ìÕ7×ÿL暤 •ÂÇ eê¾ï´Ïrљ5J•¹\Ό eëø1Ô(ísèdÁ„1üN£z—ÀLÅ a"Ö%*LĆ î֔%MŸ³%”=¶m»‹øl+|–ÆtUቯû2W„UÔF¹Ôyal>ÛªXÀQ4˜{z`. 3 0 obj SHARE THIS While the Somali government has been vocal in accusing Kenya of interference in its internal affairs, it is now emerging that it is actually Somalia that is actively sponsoring secession of some communities in Northern Kenya. They are also the majority in the capital Mogadishu. The study therefore concludes that Human scarcity of resources, dominance and politics, cultural Values and administrative boundaries influence inter-clan conflict in Northern Kenya. Having rounded-up all Somali men of the Degodia clan, as many as 5000 were taken to the Wagalla airstrip for interrogation. Accessed via Lexis-Nexus. But fears that these clan clashes may pose a threat to the security of the state (and statements by local leaders that Al-Shabaab was involved in the latest clashes in Rhamu are meant to play into these fears) may lead to more violent responses from the security forces. These clashes encompass the three districts ofin Formed in 2010 after the Garre clan lost the Mandera Central parliamentary seat to the rival Degodia clan, it managed to unite the many disparate Garre sub-clans behind an agreed slate of candidates in the build-up to the 2013 elections. The Mandera conflict comes on the heels of another conflict in neighbouring Marsabit in early 2014. Among the Degodia who largely inhabit Kenya and southern Ethiopia, the crown is inherited through family lineage. This could go a long way towards fostering alternative, multi-clan and non-violent avenues for advancing community interests. Clan clashes and communal violence are treated as secondary issues by the security forces, as shown by their slow response to the Mandera clashes. The Degodia and Garre clans have a long history of conflict and violence that are documented even in colonial records. This election result had wider ramifications on the politics of Mandera: the political domination of the Garre clan was broken; and the political presence of the Degodia clan was felt. The national government and its security institutions have over time become accustomed to the existence and usefulness of these mechanisms. Click here to tell us. endobj The long history of clan conflicts and the neglect by the state have led to the evolution of innovative and effective local “hybrid” conflict management mechanisms based on the mostly Somali and Islamic traditions of the local communities. Entertainment / Celebrities. 2 0 obj The Commission investigated and found glaring omissions in the security operation in Eastleigh. This underpins the need to conduct research in order to explore the drivers of clan-based conflict in Wajir county. Mandera County has suffered several deadly clashes over the years linked to inter-clan conflicts on resource sharing, mainly among the Degodia and Garre clans. The conflict systems in the region are further complicated by the emergence of new forms of conflict such as terrorism and the problem of radicalisation. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) with the … The Federal […] The relationship between violent extremism and clan-based conflict is complex and has no neat overlap. %PDF-1.5 The study recommends there is need youth empowerment The Wagalla massacre, which occurred in early February 1984, started as an effort to disarm the ethnic Degodia clan following clan-related conflict in the region populated by Kenyan-Somalis. The Mandera conflict comes at a time when the attention of the Kenyan state is focused on countering terror attacks from the Somali-based terror group, Al-Shabaab. Inter-clan fighting in Ethiopia has always ended up spilling into Kenya since both Degodia and Garre clans live across Kenya-Ethiopia border. admin. The policy takes a comprehensive approach to peacebuilding in Kenya and recommends new institutional and legal frameworks at national and county levels. Northern Kenya and the adjacent region is well-known for its insecurity, endemic cattle rustling and inter-tribal and clan clashes. objective of the study was to assess the drivers of inter-clan and intra-clan-based conflicts in Wajir county, Kenya. The Garre Council of Elders (GCoE) in Mandera is the most well-known example of these emerging structures. ... We, members of the Gharri clan from Butte and Gurar in Kenya,