ETHIOPIAN PASTORALISTS GATHERING DISCUSS INTERNAL AND CROSS-BORDER CONFLICTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 002073 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E DEPARTMENT PASS USAID FOR AFR TO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD EFIN EINV EAID OPICEAGR EAID PGOV PREF ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN PASTORALISTS GATHERING DISCUSS INTERNAL AND CROSS-BORDER CONFLICTS REF: ADDIS ABABA 1939 (NOTAL) ADDIS ABABA 1893 (NOTAL) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: From July 16-18, the UN's Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Activities (UN OCHA) convened approximately 300 pastoralists from about 15 West and East African countries, as part of UN OCHA's DFID-funded Pastoralist Communications Initiative. The meeting provided a platform for significant discussions on the margins between the leadership of the Borena and Gujji Oromos, and resulted in a separate agreement between opposing Nuer communities to continue talks on resolving conflict in Ethiopia's Gambella Region. In addition to conflict mitigation, the pastoralist gathering providedas well as opportunities for cross fertilization of ideas on economic development, governance and policy issues, and provision of services such as education. In addition to conflict resolution, livestock marketing and trade also were key topics of discussion. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) This was the second pastoralist gathering organized by UN OCHA's Pastoralist Communications Initiative.the Pastoralist Communications Initiative, part of UN OCHA in Ethiopia funded by DFID. The previous Global Pastoralist Gatheringone in January 2005 drewwas a Global Pastoralist Gathering with 200 participants from 23 countries represented by over 200 participants, and metheld in the Hamer Tribal area of Turmi, Southern in Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region. The July 16- 18is gathering was held at a tented camp near Yabello in the Borena Oromo area, and also includedfocused on West and East Africa, with over 300 participants from about 15 African countries, pastoralist experts, NGOs, donors, and observers from Latin America, the Middle EastArab countries, and Iran, and pastoralist experts, NGO's and donors. It was held at a tented camp near Yabello in the Borena Oromo area. ¶3. (U) The timing of the gathering was very relevant, as USAID is embarking on a regional program focusing on pastoralists, with a component on livestock trade. In addition, after the meeting was planned, a major conflict erupted between the Borena people and the neighboring Gujji Oromos, costing an estimated 100 or more lives, which is stillremains unresolved. The meeting provided a platform for major side discussions between the leadership of the Borena and Gujji Oromos, as well as opportunities for other conflict mitigation, and cross fertilization of ideas on economic development, provision of services such as education, and governance and policy issues. ¶4. (U) The meeting was fully supported by the Ethiopian government, which facilitated the entry of participants from many countries, and participated with others in the last days of the meeting to hear the input from pastoralists put forward their ideas. Federal gGovernment representatives included officials from the Ministry Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Federal Affairs, and Agriculture, while regional officials included representatives from and the OromoOromiya, Somali, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Nation (SNNPR) attendedRegions. Among others, livestock marketing trade and conflict were of most interest. -------------- Livestock Marketing and Trade -------------- ¶5. (U) While plenary discussions Discussions were held at the main meetingsaddressed on livelihoods and livestock in general, but at USAID'sthe request of USAID a side meeting was held to discuss barriers to affecting livestock trade through the northern corridor ports of Bosaso (Puntland, Somalia),Berbera (Somaliland, Somalia) and Djibouti. This was a unique opportunity to speak collectively to representatives of these areas together, and to provide input for feed into the planningning process for the livestock marketing underpart of the Regional Enhanced Livelihoods for Pastoralist Areas (RELPA) project which will be starting soon. ¶6. (U) Approximately 40 rRepresentatives of the Somali- speaking areas of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia (Somaliland and, Puntland),and Kenya attended the a two-and-half-hour- ADDIS ABAB 00002073 002 OF 003 long campfire meeting, including three Ministers of Livestock and MP's from Ethiopia and Kenya. About 40 persons gathered around a campfire for a 2 hour discussion. All the pParticipants said this was the first time that they had attended a meeting of people from all these Somali- Sspeaking areas since the Somalia's dissolutionbreakup of Somalia more than 15 years ago. ¶7. (SBU) In summary, aAll agreed that the Rift Valley Fever ban on live animal imports from the Horn of Africa to Saudi Arabia had the biggest impact on reducing prices and volume of trade from the ports. All agreed thatWhile acknowledging the need for better sanitary or phyto-sanitary control and certification must be built, some say although many consider that the continuation of the ban is political: (they say a Saudi prince reportedly handles the import of live animals from Australia and is preventing the lifting of the Rift Valley Fever ban on the Horn of Africa). They all asked for U.S. help in removing the ban and in building sanitary and phyto phyto-sanitary capacity. Many thought Saudi Arabia wanted to re-establish imports of sheep and goats from the Horn, and that some certification effort would provide the necessary justification for imports to resume. ¶8. (U) USAID's Regional Livestock Advisor for USAID from Nairobi asked the group about their level of action and commitment on improving the livestock trade . He asked what they had been doing to modernize and seek other means to improve livestock trade, and how serious would they be intheir commitment to instituting tough veterinary controls to prevent disease transmission. The Somalis were challenged by this and asked for help in convening a planning session amongmeeting of the different stakeholders from Djibouti, Somalia (Somaliland and, Puntland) and Ethiopia to be held to have a serious and practical planning session specifically onaddress livestock trade issues. In follow up discussions with vVarious officials, including particular a very activePuntland Minister of Livestock from Puntland, Said Jama Ali, strongly advocatedthe idea of a follow up meeting was pushed hard. The group insisted that it would be best if USAID supported supporting such a follow- upthis meeting and, though its advocacy, continued the momentum. ¶9. (U) There was also a feeling that Saudi Arabia wanted to re- establish imports of sheep and goats from the Horn, and that some certification effort would provide the necessary excuse. Atfter the gathering finished, a follow upsubsequent meeting was held atwith USAID in Addis Ababa, with Kenya'sthe Director of Livestock Production for the Government of Kenya, Mr. Julius Kiptarus, who attended the Pastoralist gathering,. He encouraged USAID to assist with helping toin remove removing the barriers to formal cross- border trade, and to help improveing the veterinary delivery and certification services in Ethiopia. -------------- Conflict -------------- ¶10. (U) The Gujji-Borena Oromo conflict was omnipresent at the pastoralist gathering due to its proximity to the gatheringsince it took place near where the conflict had taken place. There were pProlonged and in-depth discussions between Gujji and Borena leaders on the margins`on the side' at the gathering includeding the traditional heads from both groups, the Abba Gaddas, who discussed the causes of the conflict and from both groupscommitted themselves to stopping the violence.. The `'Gathering'' organizers reported that they felt good progress, citing had been made, reporting diminishing reports of violent incidents and decreasing IDP estimates of IDPs from the conflict. The hope is that traditional conflict management structures can be used to resolve the conflict and deal with the underlying causes. Both the Gujji and Borena leadership agreed that ADDIS ABAB 00002073 003 OF 003 they felt the "government", even though this was not clearly defined, was the problem, and that they should re-establish their traditional peaceful relations themselves. ¶11. (SBU) The Abba Gaddas met and committed themselves to stopping the violence and, in this forum, there was deeper discussion on the causes and resolution of the conflict. While the overall assessment is that violence is decreasing, a number of remaining concerns were expressed. These included thesome expressed concern that both Abba Gaddas were giving lip service to peace while preparing for another round of fighting. The Gujji Abba Gadda, - considered to be closer to the government, has extended his leadership from the normal eight years by to another two years (some say three),therefore preventing the accession of the leader of the next age group coming to power for his traditional eight- year terms. The reason given by the Abba Gadda is that he will deliver a new zone to the Gujji: - Western Gujji next to the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's' Region, to be carved out of the existing Borena Zone. The conflict was sparked when the government awarded Gujji Zone a section of Borena Zone in late May. The Borena Abba Gadda is said to be `"angry as a lion' lion" and still out for revenge for the killings which have taken place so far. ¶12. (SBU) One possible indicator of the fear of further conflict is the movement of Borena Oromos and their Gabbara allies further into Kenya, pushed by the conflict and by fears of further attacks. The Ethiopian Gabbara were said to bereportedly making arrangements at the Pastoralist gathering with their fellow Gabbara from Kenya to move into Kenya in large numbers to avoid the conflict. They are said to feel that the Borena will lose the upcoming round of conflict with the Gujji, because the Gujji have government support. An impact of the mMovement of the Borena and Gabbara into Kenya over the past few weeks has causedis increased conflict with tribes south of them in Kenya. : at USAID, Kenya'sThe Director of Livestock for Kenya told the USAID meeting that there wasreported a big increased in fighting between Borena and neighboring people to the south, which wouldand it would get worsen as the Borena were pushed down from the north for `"political' political" reasons. ¶13. (U) A great success was bringing together opposing sides to discuss The hope is that traditional conflict management structures can be used to resolve the conflict and deal with the underlying causes. Both the Gujji and Borena leadership agreed in the discussions that they felt the `government', even though this was not clearly defined, was the problem and they should re-establish their traditional peaceful relations themselves. There was also discussion on conflict in the eastern Gambella conflictRegion, between the Nuer community living in Gambella and the Nuer community in Sudan (whose traditional chief attended). This was considered a great success because the two sides have had serious conflict and have not been talking to each other. Positive discussions were held and there wasconcluded with agreement to continuethat the discussions would continue once the groups had returned home. This is a major factor in determining whether the Nuer refugees in Gambella can return to Sudan. ¶14. (U) There was also a great deal of undirected talk about the situation in Somalia situation, includingwith the fear that a serious civil war may break outerupt. There was considerable debate about how `"fundamentalist' fundamentalist" the Islamic Courts are, how much they reflect clan structures, and how much support they or the Transitional Federal Ggovernment enjoyed.