The border between Kenya and Uganda has been the stage for recurrent clashes between the cattle rustling warriors of Dodoth (Uganda), Iik (Uganda) and Turkana (Kenya). At the heart of their quarrel is a fight for resources.

Jitambue Empowering Organization (JAMEO) has an ambitious plan to resolve this ongoing conflict on International Peace Day (21 September), by gathering together communities in Nawontos, a locality at the border of the two countries in the Turkana province of Kenya. JAMEO’s goal is clearly stated: to come up with a signed Nawontos Peace Treaty.

For this purpose, JAMEO plans to organize interactive activities, fostering interaction and exchange between the conflicting communities throughout the day. Through intercommunity dialogue, dance and a soccer game, the organization hopes to achieve a “traditional long lasting peace treaty.” Warriors are also expected to plant trees on a well-known border battleground.

The impact of the day is expected to be significant: JAMEO’s project coordinator Patrick Chemwolo explained to The Global Journal that the project could positively impact up to 2,000 people. Even if a Peace Treaty is not actually agreed on 21 September, Chemwolo underlined that the event would nonetheless “open doors for more peace dialogues which will eventually lead to a peace treaty.”

JAMEO, like over 280 other NGOs, is part of the Global Truce NGO Coalition, established by Peace One Day and coordinated by Interpeace. The goal of the coalition is to hold events to promote peace throughout the world, in order to achieve the largest reduction of violence ever seen in a single day.

Photo © Jameo

Interpeace is a leading international non-profit organization dedicated to building lasting peace in post-conflict societies.

 Peace One Day is an international non-profit organization with the objective to raise awareness of the International Day of Peace that occurs on the 21 September each year by promoting a Global Truce.