Uhuru Kenyatta, Ethiopian PM to launch border peace programme in Moyale

Sunday, December 06, 2015

An armoured military vehicle patrolling a street in the border town of Moyale. President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn are Monday December 7, 2015 expected to launch a major programme to ensure peace along the Kenya-Ethiopia border. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

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President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn are Monday expected to launch a major programme to ensure peace along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

The ‘Marsabit County/Kenya-Borana zone/Ethiopia Integrated Cross Border and Area-based Programme’ is to be launched in Moyale Town.

UN resident coordinators Nardos Bekele-Thomas (Kenya), Ahunna Eziakonwa (Ethiopia) and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) executive secretary Mahboub Maalim said the main objective of the initiative was to "achieve transformational change through strategic and integrated responses."

In a statement, the three said the initiative will replace fragmented and piecemeal support and jointly assist the region in reducing vulnerability, increase resilience and promote inclusive economic growth in Marsabit County and the Borana Zone.

The programme is spearheaded by the local and national governments of Ethiopia and Kenya, the UN country teams of Ethiopia and Kenya and Igad in collaboration with government ministries, the private sector and development partners.

Ms Bekele-Thomas, Ms Eziakonwa and Mr Maalim said the cross border initiative is expected to create opportunities for trade, investment and tourism and ensure effective use and management of natural resources.

It will also improve infrastructure through Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopian Transport corridor (Lapsset), control cross-border conflict and enhance cross-border movement of people and curb illegal human and arms trafficking.

Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani, Oromia Regional State President Muktar Kedir, World Bank regional delegate Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, USAID Mission director in Kenya Karen Freeman, Hhead of European delegation to African Union Gary Quince and Ethiopia House of Representatives Speaker Abadula Gemeda are expected to attend the launch.

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