Lokoriama Peace Accord Commemoration
Brief About the Lokiriama Peace Accord
Background:
Every year on 21st September, for the past few years, the Ateker Cluster from Uganda, Kenya and their neighbors convene at Lokiriama in Loima District of Turkana County in Kenya to celebrate and commemorate as well as assess progress in achieving sustainable peace initiatives agreed upon on the 17th December 1973 during the Lokiriama Peace Accord.
The event and celebrations have always been pushed to coincide with the United Nations (UN) International Day of Peace.
The Ateker cluster comprises of Karamojong of Uganda; Pokot and Turkana of Kenya; Toposa of South Sudan; Dasanesh (Merille) and Nyangatom of South West Ethiopia who for many decades have been characterized by inter and intra community conflict arising from a myriad of historical and cultural factors. These include insecurity, scarcity of resources for livestock and human survival, poor infrastructure, recurrent droughts, floods, livestock diseases, livestock theft and poverty.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s the Matheniko and Turkana used to raid each other with devastating effects. The most notable one was the Nakiloro encounter where both persons and livestock were lost in hundreds. This brought a big challenge to the two communities that eventually begun looking at other means of survival by making peace with each other and begun to establish a social contract of peaceful living together because of losses on both sides.
It is in this light that the two communities appreciated the peace and coexistence as a felt need demanding collective responsibility. The Matheniko emissaries camped at Lokiriama for almost a month negotiating for ceasefire and peace with the Turkana. After unconditional consent from the Turkana community, elders from the two communities met at Lokiriama to discuss details of burying the hatchet. As a good gesture of new relationships, Turkana young men were tasked to escort the Matheniko emissaries back to their land.
Later, the two groups of elders traveled to Lodwar to seek approval from Mr. White House, by then area District Commissioner of the current Greater Turkana sub-region. The District Commissioner (DC) depicted his government’s applause and support for the initiative by slaughtering unspecified number of camels for the teams. The DC advised the elders to mobilize their respective communities for a general inter community meeting at Lokiriama. On the 19th December, 1973 a final meeting was convened at Lokiriama under the guidance of the Tepeth seer. The function attracted Matheniko, Tepeth, Turkana and Government representatives from Kenya and Uganda.
The pact was signed on the 19th December 1973 with the sealing of the pact by burying of the hatchet that consisted of an assortment of broken arrows, guns, spears, bows and ammunitions in a deep pit at Lokiriama, Loima District, Kenya.
Theme
This year`s theme, like for the past years is obtained from the UN International Day of Peace; “Fit for the Future: Building Together.” This is a clarion call for stakeholders (adakar, kraal, Civil Society and government leaders) commitment to embrace diversity and resolve conflicts through dialogue and empathy.
For the Ateker cluster, it is only a reminder of the Lokiriama Peace Accord and emphasis to act on the last agreed resolutions as a sign of commitment and contract to deliver, and this year 2024 creates and presents an opportunity for leaders and people to commit to these agreements and resolutions.
This year`s event is supported by UNDP in partnership with Riamiriam Civil Society Network-Karamoja,VEDCO, Karamoja Agro Pastoral Development Programme, GARD, Better World, Warrior Squard and among others.
