Pastoralist News
Peace Meeting Between Kerayu and Afar, mediated by the Oromiya Pastoralists Association |
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“Peace will come only when we are just, and when we tell the truth.”
Pastoralists realize that to have any kind of development investment in their communities, there must be peace. Traditional ways of bringing peace have worked before, and so they should continue to be used. Because of this Kerayu and Afar pastoralists agreed to a traditional peace meeting mediated by the Oromiya Pastoralists Association and including 60 Kerayu elders and 50 Afar elders. Ten local government officials opened the meeting and were present when the results were announced, but did not take part in the peace process. The meeting opened with a traditional ritual in which both sides pledged to accept the facts of any claims made by the other group. On the first day each group presented its claim, including the number of missing animals and casualties, as well as evidence on why they believed the other group was to blame. On the second day the groups discussed the evidence to reconcile the facts presented by both sides. It was decided that after the claims had been presented and discussed, the two sides would have 20 days in which repay the accepted claims—by returning the missing animals or compensating people for those that could not be returned—and provide new evidence about those claims that were still in dispute. After 20 days the groups will reconvene to decide on the next step. Local governments on both sides have agreed to abide by the decisions made in the peace meeting.