In a concerted effort to promote peace along its borders, Mandera county has embarked on a collaborative peace-building initiative with a neighboring town of Bula Hawa in Somalia.
The peace initiative talks are being facilitated by a local NGO, Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development, with the organization expressing its commitment towards fostering peace among area residents.
Consequently, the NGO has introduced a raft of measures including sponsoring football tournaments between Kenyan and Somalia residents, with a view to promoting peaceful coexistence.
On his part, the County Government Chief Officer for Cohesion & Conflict Management Hussein Hassan speaking during a meeting held in Mandera town, urged all residents to embrace peaceful coexistence instead of promoting terror activities across the border.
Hassan called upon communities engaged in conflicts to leave such disputes and wholeheartedly embrace peace.
At the same time, area Assistant County Commissioner Libihia Hassan Mursal underscored the importance of peace and urged the youth to assist in building cohesion amongst communities living along the porous border, which has been a thorn in flesh for the government over the years.
Officials from Somalia, present at the event, lauded the Kenyan team for organizing such an initiative, which had the potential of cultivating peace between the neighboring towns of Kenya and Somalia.
A football match that was played during the event on Friday ended with Bula Hawa emerging winners in a thrilling penalty shootout, with a score of 5-4.
By Adan Mohamed
