General information
Part of Conflict: n/a
First Battle Related Death: 2000-01-01
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 2000-12-31
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The non-state conflict between the Degodia and the Garre is first included in UCDP data in 2000. Sometime in that year, clashes between the two groups in Malka Wiila near Dolo in Ethiopia caused some 37 battle-related deaths.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2000
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 37 |
| Best | 37 |
| Low | 37 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Degodia): n/a
Side B (Garre): n/a
2012
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 37 |
| Best | 30 |
| Low | 30 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Degodia): n/a
Side B (Garre): n/a
2013
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 97 |
| Best | 57 |
| Low | 52 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Degodia): n/a
Side B (Garre): n/a
2014
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 129 |
| Best | 77 |
| Low | 77 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Degodia): n/a
Side B (Garre): n/a
2015
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 42 |
| Best | 15 |
| Low | 15 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Degodia): n/a
Side B (Garre): n/a
2018
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 6 |
| Best | 6 |
| Low | 6 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Degodia): n/a
Side B (Garre): n/a
2019
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 3 |
| Best | 3 |
| Low | 3 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Degodia): n/a
Side B (Garre): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2000 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
2012 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: Fighting between Degodia and Garre broke out in northeast Kenya in July and August 2012, and then re-erupted in November. The fighting mainly took the form of attacks and counter-attacks on villages, at times including cattle theft. There were accusations directed toward the Kenyan security forces of failing to prevent the violent outbreaks despite previous warnings of imminent violence. Some sources attributed the fighting to rising tensions ahead of the 2013 Kenyan elections, as the two groups vie for control over Mandera district.
Terminated: NO
2013 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: Violent conflict between Degodia and Garre in northeast Kenya continued in 2013. Serveral analysts connected the fighting to competition over resources and local political positions, which have become significantly strengthened with devolution under Kenyas new constitution (adopted 2010). In the elections, Garre lost the the parliamentary seat in Mandera which the community had held for decades.
Violence erupted in Rhamu, Mandera North, during the run-up to the elections and continued during the first half of the year, spreading from Mandera to Wajir County. The warring communities straddle the Kenya-Ethiopia border, and heavily armed militia from southeast Ethiopia reportedly took part in the violence. Heavy weaponry including grenade launchers was said to have bee used in some of the clashes. Thousands were displaced due to the violence.
The government responded by strengthening security enforcement and supporting mediation between the communities. Following negotiations involving local political and community leaders, a ceasefire agreement was signed in early July, dubbed the "Ramadhan gift" as it was reached just before the start of the Muslim holy month. Reportedly, the parties agreed to end revenge attacks and coexist peacefully. No serious clashes were reported after the signing of the agreement.
Terminated: NO
2014 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The discrepancy between best and high figures is partly due to summary accounts suggesting the total death toll in the conflict may have been higher than suggested by individual reported events. Also, a major battle took place in and around Rhamu town in late August, where the confirmed death toll was low while unconfirmed reports suggested up to 30 people had died.
Comment on Active: Violent conflict between Degodia and Garre in northeast Kenya erupted again in 2014. The beginning of the year was calm and saw continuing dialogue between the communities, but clashes broke out in May and escalated during the following months. The renewed outbreak was attributed to a bush clearing project where Degodia workers reportedly extended their work into an area claimed by the Garre, a move interpreted by the latter as an attempt to take over their territory.
Clashes continued during May and June. The government responded to the clashes by deploying security forces, but was accused of doing too little, and security personnel were criticized for failing to halt the violence. Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab reportedly took advantage of the worsened security situation to launch attacks on police stations and similar targets in the area. On 25th June, President Kenyatta visited the area and implored community leaders to control the violence or he would deploy the army; this led to a brief lull in the fighting but violence resumed in mid-August.
Some national leaders blamed the violence on interference by militias from bordering Ethiopia and Somalia, while other analysts claimed devolution had increased the stakes at the local level. There were also calls on the government to address the underlying border issue and clearly demarcate borders between the groups. Community leaders also accused local politicians of fuelling and funding the violence.
In early October, a ceasefire agreement was reached, overseen by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and its chairman, Francis ole Kaparo. While the agreement did not appear to tackle the underlying conflict issues, no more clashes were reported during the remainder of the year.
Terminated: NO
2015 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
2018 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
2019 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
