In recent decades, Banisa sub-county in Kenya’s Mandera County has faced recurring inter-communal conflict between the Garre and Degodia clans. Despite a history of peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness on the Kenyan side of Banisa and Malkamri, these communities continue to experience tensions arising from cross-border spillovers from Ethiopia’s Mubarak and Filtu districts. These tensions frequently escalate into violent episodes, including deadly attacks and retaliatory killings, resulting in significant loss of life, population displacement, and weakening of the already fragile social fabric in the region.
In August 2024, the conflict between the two clans flared again after a Garre family in Mubarak Woreda, Ethiopia, was attacked by suspected Degodia gunmen. In the dawn attack, Seven Garre clan members were killed, and four children were injured. In the aftermath of these unfortunate events, the Garre clan launched a counter-revenge and nine Degodia clan members were killed. This series of violent incidents claimed the lives of 16 individuals in less than a month.
In response to the escalating conflict, the Danish Refugee Council-Kenya, under the BORESHA-NABAD Consortium, together with other peace actors and the County Department of Community Cohesion, launched a joint response initiative to address both the immediate triggers and underlying causes of the violence. The intervention facilitated two intra-community dialogues to foster long-term peace and stability in the Banisa-Mubarak Corridor.
The initiative brought together 160 clansmen—80 Garre and 80 Degodia—from across the Mandera sub-counties and the Ethiopian districts of Filtu and Mubarak. The two communities engaged in separate intra-community meetings to build internal consensus and find solutions to the conflict. These discussions laid the groundwork for future inter-community dialogues and peaceful resolutions.
Notably, the Degodia community was represented by key elders, including Wabar Abdille’s Cabinet, the Degodia king from Filtu and Dolow. Their participation was instrumental in facilitating cross-border internal deliberations on the recurring retaliations, which were often instigated from the Ethiopian side. During the discussions, the Degodia community identified recent boundary delimitation in Ethiopia—dividing the former Liban Zone into Liban and Dawa—as a major cause of tension.
The re-division led to the eviction of Degodia families from six settlements along the River Dawa, which now marked the boundary. These evictions resulted in the loss of farmlands and property for Degodia clansmen who used to till the land, which has since fueled discontent and created new points of conflict, as the land now falls under the Garre-dominated district of Mubarak.
“For us, we have resolved to honour the peace agreements, cease hostilities, and ensure that such violent incidents do not recur. This meeting has provided the Degodia community with a vital platform to reflect on why these conflicts persist, and it has been crucial in addressing the deep-rooted issues.” Mohamed Abdishakur, Degodia Elder
Similarly, the Garre community used the intra-community dialogues to reflect on their own actions, particularly the retaliatory attacks, and discuss ways to prevent such incidents in the future. Both communities acknowledged that internal discussions were vital in forming a united front for the upcoming inter-community dialogue.
“We have agreed to uphold that peace is maintained. Furthermore, we commit, as promised, that there will be no more retaliations. We emphasise the need for a broader cross-border meeting to bring together our leadership from Kenya and Ethiopia to end this cyclic violence.” Mohamed Yussuf, Garre Elder
The intra-community dialogues solved internal differences and paved the way for consensus-building. Both sides agreed that the next step would be a formal inter-community dialogue in Mandera Town involving representatives from the Garre and Degodia communities on both sides of the border. This meeting will be crucial in crafting actionable points for an upcoming cross-border dialogue to address the conflict’s root causes and ensure long-term peace.
“We wish to inform our community members that the movement of people and goods, which was halted during the conflict, should now resume. Camel herders and public transport services should now move freely between Banisa and Mandera without hindrance.” Abdinur Alike, Garre Elder
“We are grateful for this meeting, and as we prepare for the next phase of dialogue, we will also conduct follow-up discussions with our local administrations in Mubarak and Filtu to resolve the land disputes as agreed.”Mzee Mohamed Bulle, Degodia Elder
This series of intra-community dialogues represents a vital step towards peace in the Kenya-Ethiopia borderland areas and has set the stage for a conclusive resolution to the recurring violence along the border. The joint efforts by peace stakeholders demonstrate the importance of collaboration in maintaining and sustaining expensive peace ventures in the county and beyond.
Notably, several ongoing initiatives undertaken on the Kenyan side by the peace actors, including establishing grassroots structures and supporting government-led interventions, lay the groundwork for ensuring peace and stability. The upcoming cross-border dialogues will be critical in cementing peaceful coexistence and addressing the core issues driving the conflict.