Young_Turk
Elder Lister
A fascinating insight into Northern Kenya's Disputed Land territory.
The Ilemi Triangle - Persée (persee.fr)
The Ilemi Triangle - Persée (persee.fr)
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Ilemi Triangle
- Thread starter Young_Turk
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Young_Turk
Elder Lister
And now with the conflict in Ethiopia. The region has been notoriously difficult to govern.
wrongturn
Elder Lister
Weka summary, we are Kenyans, we don't like to read unless ni kitabu ya slices
Young_Turk
Elder Lister
Fun fact. At one point, the Ilemi triangle was a province of Uganda. The Rudolf Province. It was handed over to Kenya in 1924
mzeiya
Elder Lister
Tit for tat then considering ata sisi tulinyang'anywa Mt.Kilimanjaro and we have the smallest share of Nam Lolwe aka L.Victoria
Young_Turk
Elder Lister
TLDR
1. Originally was a part of Sudan. Sudan was a British protectorate. Given its very large size, the colonialist found it difficult to administer. So much so that they gave up 2 other parts in disputes to Mussolini (Libya) and Egypt (Halayib Triangle)
2. Illemi triangle is named after the Chief Ilemi Akwon of the Anuak tribe.
3. It's between 4000 and 5400 sq miles depending on the year and surveyor.
4. It's a place where pastrolist communities/ pass one another when grazing.
6. Emperor Menelik II wanted the British to give him all the land north of Lake Turkana, a horizontal line that he called the "Samburu Sea", but the British were not about to give in to an African like the Italians did (with Ethiopia).
7. With the downfall of Menelik II, gunrunners and mercenaries roamed about the North, and what were small skirmishes and cattle raids turned into full on wars and lawlessness. Poaching was also on the rise.
8. No one wanted to administer the region. It was remote from all regional governments and expensive to do so.
9. Eventually, it was transferred to Kenya from Uganda (Rudolf province was held by Uganda for Sudan so that they could have access to Lake Turkana)
10. Kenya set up military posts, ran by KAR to administer the region in 1914. It was very costly, about 30,000 Pounds per year, which was a significant amount in 1914
11. The people were in a proxy war that aligned with the colonialists throughout WW2 (Nationalist vs. British. vs. Italians) and old ethnic rivalries continued given the proliferation of even more weapons.
12. President Jomo Kenyatta post-independence tried to solicit the British to give more to Kenya. British weren't interested.
13. More insecurity and indifference by regional powers.
14. Major shift when South Sudan independence movement SPLM's John Garang offered President Moi territorial claims of the region despite the fact it wasn't his to give.
15. Moi quietly armed the Turkana's in order to give them the upper hand there.
16. Illemi triangle remains an unresolved issue to date.
1. Originally was a part of Sudan. Sudan was a British protectorate. Given its very large size, the colonialist found it difficult to administer. So much so that they gave up 2 other parts in disputes to Mussolini (Libya) and Egypt (Halayib Triangle)
2. Illemi triangle is named after the Chief Ilemi Akwon of the Anuak tribe.
3. It's between 4000 and 5400 sq miles depending on the year and surveyor.
4. It's a place where pastrolist communities/ pass one another when grazing.
A) Turkana from Kenya - move back and forth between Kenya and Sudan
B) Didinga(west of side) and Topasa(east side) of Sudan
C) Nyangatom from Sudan and Ethiopia from the northeast
D) Dassanetch from east side of Ethiopia
5. They traded and shared with another regularly and they raided one another in competition of resources. These raids were cultural and overseen by the elders until the introduction of weapons in 1898 and the youths did whatever they wanted. 6. Emperor Menelik II wanted the British to give him all the land north of Lake Turkana, a horizontal line that he called the "Samburu Sea", but the British were not about to give in to an African like the Italians did (with Ethiopia).
7. With the downfall of Menelik II, gunrunners and mercenaries roamed about the North, and what were small skirmishes and cattle raids turned into full on wars and lawlessness. Poaching was also on the rise.
8. No one wanted to administer the region. It was remote from all regional governments and expensive to do so.
9. Eventually, it was transferred to Kenya from Uganda (Rudolf province was held by Uganda for Sudan so that they could have access to Lake Turkana)
10. Kenya set up military posts, ran by KAR to administer the region in 1914. It was very costly, about 30,000 Pounds per year, which was a significant amount in 1914
11. The people were in a proxy war that aligned with the colonialists throughout WW2 (Nationalist vs. British. vs. Italians) and old ethnic rivalries continued given the proliferation of even more weapons.
12. President Jomo Kenyatta post-independence tried to solicit the British to give more to Kenya. British weren't interested.
13. More insecurity and indifference by regional powers.
14. Major shift when South Sudan independence movement SPLM's John Garang offered President Moi territorial claims of the region despite the fact it wasn't his to give.
15. Moi quietly armed the Turkana's in order to give them the upper hand there.
16. Illemi triangle remains an unresolved issue to date.
Young_Turk
Elder Lister
The thing is the Rudolf Province was only being held by Uganda on behalf of SudanTit for tat then considering ata sisi tulinyang'anywa Mt.Kilimanjaro and we have the smallest share of Nam Lolwe aka L.Victoria
All three were British properties.
The passing of the duties of actual administration was too much so the Kenyan colonial government took lead.
Young_Turk
Elder Lister
Not really. Given that the Turkana are a nomadic community, the region has always been open to the other communities that also transhuman through the triangle while grazing in this direction:
A) Turkana from Kenya - move back and forth between Kenya and Sudan
B) Didinga(west of side) and Topasa(east side) of Sudan
C) Nyangatom from Sudan and Ethiopia from the northeast
D) Dassanetch from east side of Ethiopia
I always imagined if the LAPSSET project was implemented, then that would be incentive enough to put in place the necessary infrastructure to completely take it into our control.
Clemens
Elder Lister
I have been there, have you? I am talking from experience Bro.
Young_Turk
Elder Lister
No, I haven't. What's your take on the other nomads who move through the area?
Please share your experience of being there.
Border control, accommodations etc.
Clemens
Elder Lister
A funny thing Kiongozi, is that, our neighbors countries are always green, our cradle is the one that suffers from the vagaries of weather, as we are talking our kin are being attacked in Uganda where they gone for greener pastures.
Young_Turk
Elder Lister
Scarcity of resources always breeds disquiet. Add weapons and you have a grease fire.
I read that the county has tried to dig boreholes in the area to alleviate dry seasons.
Is that true ama nimedanganywa?
Clemens
Elder Lister
They are there but the water in most places are unfit for human and animal consumption, check out the attrition rate of national government officers posted/appointed in that area.