Kenya and Ethiopia Officials Meet After Deadly Fishermen Attack at Border
Kenya and Ethiopia’s officials came together on Sunday evening to address a standoff at the main border in Turkana, following an attack that left over 20 fishermen dead.
The attack, which occurred in the Lopeimukay and Lotiira areas, resulted in the discovery of at least 15 boats, a gun, and other equipment recovered from the Omo River. Some of the bodies were taken to the local mortuary, and efforts to find more victims are still underway.
Around 20 people are still missing after the attack, which was carried out by armed Desanach gunmen on Saturday evening. Authorities have called for regular meetings to avoid further confrontations in the future.
This attack on the Kenyan fishermen was a retaliatory move following an earlier incident in which three Ethiopians were killed, leading the Desanach group to take action. Witnesses mentioned that some Kenyan fishermen drowned in the chaos.
Local residents have expressed alarm over the violence. On Sunday afternoon, the National Police Service launched an investigation into what it described as an “alleged clash” between the Turkana and Desanach fishermen along the border.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen acknowledged “a problem” in the area, noting that “some Kenyans were harmed,” and assured that authorities are working closely with the Ethiopian government and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to resolve the issue. He added, “Calm has returned in the area, and there is no cause for alarm.”
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo clarified that the attack took place near the Ethiopian side of the border and downplayed the figures being reported, stating that they would share confirmed details later.
The tension in the region remains high, and additional security personnel have been deployed to maintain order. Turkana North MP Ekwom Nabuin shared disturbing reports that more than 20 fishermen from the Todonyang area of Lake Turkana had been killed by the Desanach militia from Ethiopia.
He warned that the situation is dire, calling for swift rescue efforts. The attack, he stressed, occurred on Kenyan soil, which is being occupied by heavily armed Ethiopian militias.
Further reports indicated that more victims are missing, and search operations are continuing. The area, which has poor infrastructure, is along the Omo River, where the fishermen had crossed from Ethiopia. Tensions had been rising in recent weeks after gunmen from Ethiopia were spotted, allegedly seeking revenge.
On Wednesday evening, a 24-year-old herder named Kai Ebu was shot and killed by gunmen in the Merikuka village near the Loyoro Fishing Site along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
Ebu was grazing his calves when he was attacked, and his body was found with a gunshot wound to the head. The attackers are suspected to have come from Ethiopia, although the motive remains unclear. Police have launched efforts to track down the assailants, who managed to escape.
The region has long been struggling with insecurity, with raiders from neighboring countries frequently targeting livestock. To combat this, the government initiated Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift in February 2023.
This operation, aimed at curbing escalating banditry, cattle rustling, and violence, involves multiple security agencies and has brought some of the raiders into Ethiopia. The operation has been focused on nine counties, including Turkana, and is intended to restore peace in the troubled areas.
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Kenya and Ethiopia Officials Meet After Deadly Fishermen Attack at Border
