Ten governments meet pastoralists in Ethiopian bush

ADDIS ABAB--Representatives from ten governments arrived in the Ethiopian bush yesterday to join a meeting of international pastoralists as it entered its seventh day.

Pastoralist leaders from 19 countries have spent the last six days sheltering under the shade of acacia trees on the Yabello rangelands, locked in discussions on trade, governance and production. A series of resolutions on these issues will then be presented to the gathering.

Government officials from the Greater Horn states were joined by representatives from the American and British Governments, senior UN officials and NGO chiefs from across the region.

Speaking to the 400 delegates yesterday morning, Oromiya Vice President Muktar Kedir said: “This is a great opportunity for the pastoralist representatives to share their experiences, wisdom and views and to bring their problems to the attention of government officials, donors, development partners and for informative responses.”

The Oromiya Vice President, Ambassador Tiruneh Zena from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Kenyan Pastoralist Parliamentary group Hon. Ali Wario and UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator Fidel Sassoro were among those welcomed to the temporary camp by Daoud Tari Abkula of event organisers, the UN/OCHA Pastoralist Communication Initiative.

The event will be closed today by the Borana, Gabra and Guji hosts in a traditional blessing involving dancing, singing and Oromo cavalry.

There are thought to be 100 million pastoralists worldwide with 8 – 10 million in Ethiopia alone.