SUMMARY

The Toposa live in the south-eastern part of Sudan and the Turkana inhabits the north-western corner of Kenya. This means that the homeland of the two groups is neighboring each other. Relations between the Toposa and Turkana have been problematic and included competition over scarce resources such as water and pasture as well as cattle raids. This has occasionally led to clashes between the two ethnic groups and most often the reason for clashes has been cattle-rustling. As cattle are at the heart of the two societies and a symbol of being rich stealing of cattle from a neighboring ethnic group is sometimes taking place. One reason for these feuds becoming bloody is that automatic weapons are outspread in the area.

The non-state conflict between Toposa and Turkana is first included in UCDP data in 1992. In October that year Turkana men attacked a Toposa village, killing at least 200 people.