Lotera Koki lives with his family in the Nawayape Kebele in Ethiopia’s Nyanagtom Distric along the Kibish River near the Kenya border. They are part of the Nyanagtom pastoralist community, which has long faced resource-based conflicts. Lotera Koki is 65 years old, has five wives, seven sons, and eight daughters, making a total of 21 members in the household.
“For years, we struggled with conflicts over water, grazing land, and livestock,” Koki explains. These disputes often escalated into violence, especially with the neighboring Turkana people of Kenya, resulting in lost lives and stolen livestock.
Over time, worsening environmental conditions made matters worse. “Our rangelands, once fertile, became overrun with bushes, making it hard to graze livestock,” he said. This led to a decline in livestock numbers, which deeply impacted the local economy and reduced opportunities for the youth. “With fewer options, many young people turned to theft and looting, creating a cycle of violence,” Koki recalled.
Community dialogues address roots of conflicts
In 2024, DanChurchAid (DCA) introduced a series of community dialogues aimed at addressing the root causes of these conflicts as part of the SPREAD project.
“These discussions opened our eyes,” Koki said. “We realized that it wasn’t just about resources – historical grievances, cultural pressures, and environmental changes also played a role.”
The turning point
Koki participated in a cross-border peace dialogue that included the Nyanagtom, Turkana from Kenya, and Toposa from South Sudan. “This was a turning point,” he said. “We agreed to return stolen livestock and firearms, which helped rebuild trust between our communities.”
In addition to the peace talks, Koki attended shared natural resource management training in Turmi. “We learned how to manage grazing land and water fairly and sustainably,” he said. “Mapping out and dividing resources fairly has already reduced disputes.”
Through these efforts, Koki has seen positive changes. “We’re now learning to work together instead of fighting,” he said. “The return of stolen livestock was a powerful symbol of peace, and the dialogue has helped us find common ground.”
Communication is key
Koki believes ongoing communication is vital to lasting peace. “We must continue these discussions, focus on conflict prevention, and make long-term agreements on resource use,” he urged.
He also emphasized the need to support young people with education, vocational training, and new job opportunities. “When youth have options, they are less likely to turn to violence,” he explained.
“The journey hasn’t been easy,” Koki reflected. “But with the support we receive and our community’s commitment, we’ve made great progress. There are still challenges ahead, but I believe we are on the right path toward a peaceful and sustainable future.”
About SPREAD
- Exact/full title: Strengthening integrated Peace, Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction for cross-border communities in the Karamoja Cluster
- Period: February 2024 – January 2027
- Partners: SaferWorld, ROG, ICPDO, ECC, APAD
- Amount: 14,000,000 EURO
- Target of 80,000 people reached by end of project
- Donor(s): EU & Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
