SUMMARY

As for most ethnic groups along the Kenya – Ethiopia border, cattle play a vital role. They not only serve as the main food supply for many tribes, but are also of considerable spiritual value, are used as bride prizes and serve different functions in religious rituals. Resulting from this importance of cattle, cattle raids between rival tribes have a long tradition. With the increased availability of modern weapons, such cattle raids became more violent and deadly. Those clashes can furthermore be characterized by a circular pattern since in order to assure survival, raided tribes must retaliate against other tribes to replenish lost livestock.

In addition to traditional cattle raids, the conflict between Borana and the Gabra was intensified by recurrent droughts in the early- and mid-2000s in the Borana homelands. The group lost almost 80 % of their livestock and an estimated 98 % of their crops. Water shortages forced them to wander hundreds of kilometers and partly leave their homelands, which sparked clashes with neighboring tribes such as the Gabra whose territory they came to enter.

A further characteristic of this conflict is the cross-border dimension. The homeland of both groups is split between Kenya and Ethiopia. This has two consequences: First, it makes it more difficult for law enforcement and governmental peace programs such as disarmament efforts to be effective. Second, conflicts between the two groups constantly risks leading to tensions between the two states, endangering the fragile inter-state relations in the Kenya-Ethiopian-Somali border area.

Apart from fighting each other separately, the Borana and the Gabra were also involved in a conflict in Ethiopia in 1992 when the Borana fought against a Gabra - Garre alliance. For further information, see the Borana - Gabra, Garre conflict.

The non-state conflict between the Borana and the Gabra is first included in UCDP data in 2005. In July of that year fighting between the two groups led to more than 25 battle-related deaths.