ETHIOPIA: Peace Forum Concludes in Borana Zone, Ethiopia
Habtamu Abrdew Beture
The multi-stakeholder Peace Forum, which fostered stability and social cohesion, successfully concluded on Saturday, February 7, at the Pastoralist Technical and Vocational Training College in Yabello.
The event was organized by the Spiritan Community Service in Ethiopia (SCORE), Borana office, under the umbrella of the Borana Integrated Community Development Project (BICDP Phase-2) and the Multi-Actor Partnership (MAP) project.
The forum brought together a diverse group of leaders and community representatives committed to building a culture of non-violence.
Participants engaged in active dialogue focused on practical strategies to strengthen peace at both the grassroots and regional levels. The discussions centered on four critical areas, which are leveraging the wisdom of the Gadaa system and local customs to settle disputes, empowering these key groups to lead peacebuilding initiatives within their neighbourhoods, strengthening mechanisms to detect and prevent potential conflicts before they escalate, and acknowledging the vital need to maintain peace along the Ethiopia-Kenya border to ensure regional stability.
“This forum has reaffirmed our collective commitment to preventing conflict and fostering unity across the Borana Zone and beyond,” organizers noted during the closing ceremony.
The forum concluded with a shared pledge to enhance coordination between the government, civil society, and traditional community structures. By aligning these different sectors, the initiative aims to create a sustainable framework for social harmony and development.
SCORE expressed its heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders for their dedication to building a peaceful future, emphasizing that such collaboration is essential to the region’s long-term prosperity.
