SUMMARY

The Degodia and the Garre inhabit a remote region that straddles the border between north-eastern Kenya and south-eastern Ethiopia. The area is right on the border between the region’s two over-arching ethnic groups, Oromo and Somali (see both Somali (Ethiopia), and Somali (Kenya)), who have a conflict-ridden relationship. In general terms, Oromo groups (in this area specifically the Borana Oromo) have a long history of conflict with different Somali groupings, with the latter expanding their territory westwards, into land perceived by the former as theirs.

However, ascribing ethnic identity in the region is not uncomplicated, as some groups tend to shift group belonging strategically according to their own situational needs. This shift is rendered possible since some groups can be viewed as Oromo by one set of criteria (such as language) and Somali by another set of criteria (clanship and religion for instance). Subsequently, these groups can stress their affiliation to the two overarching groups more or less, depending on the context. Both the Degodia and the Garre belong to this category of groups with changing affiliations; while they are commonly regarded as Somali groups, they have at some points in time chosen to stress their link to the Borana Oromo.

Subsequently, while the mainline of contentions runs between – loosely speaking – Oromo and Somalis, the exact demarcation of these groups change and this is one of the background factors in the Degodia – Garre conflict. When the two groups at times find themselves on different sides of the divide, tensions grow and there are outbreaks of fighting. Sometimes this is a consequence of one group perceiving itself to be on the stronger side, and thus taking advantage of the situation and launching a raiding party.

Another, more proximate reason for the conflict between the two groups is competition over pastoralist resources, such as water and grazing. Both the Degodia and the Garre are camel pastoralists and they inhabit a region that is oftentimes hit by droughts, aggravating this competition.

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.