Displaced Residents Return Home as Search for Missing Persons Continues in Dasenech Woreda

"Displaced People Are Returning to Their Homes; Search for Missing Persons Intensifies" – Dasenech Woreda Administration

In the South Ethiopia Region, South Omo Zone, Dasenech Woreda, and the border area with Turkana in northern Kenya, a conflict erupted, displacing over 10,000 pastoralists from the Sayyes village in Dasenech. Ato Tadelle Hato, the administrator of Dasenech Woreda, told Tikva Ethiopia that the displaced individuals have begun returning to their homes.

The conflict, which was reportedly sparked by disputes over fishing nets and boat thefts in Lake Turkana, resulted in the loss of over 30 lives from both countries, as previously reported.

Following the conflict, the northern shore of Lake Turkana, which connects Kenya and Ethiopia, remained inactive for the past five days. During this time, around 10,000 pastoralists from Sayyes village in Dasenech Woreda were displaced to a nearby village.

Yesterday, officials from Dasenech and Turkana, along with the head of the South Ethiopia Region Peace and Security Bureau and the Regional Police Commissioner, led a delegation from Ethiopia. They met with a delegation from Kenya, led by the Turkana County Police Commissioner and a local parliamentary representative. The discussions focused on resolving the border conflict swiftly and restoring peace to the area. Ato Tadelle Hato informed Tikva Ethiopia that efforts are underway to return the displaced individuals to their homes.

Additionally, Ato Tadelle mentioned that the search for bodies missing in the lake has intensified. He also noted that discussions are ongoing to return properties seized by both sides and to strengthen community-to-community relations in the area.