Militia seizes Kenyan waters as fishing feuds turn deadly

A deadly conflict over the control of lucrative fishing grounds along the Todonyang border has escalated, pitting Turkana fishermen against Dassanech militia from Ethiopia. 

The violence, sparked by boundary disputes and competition over fishing resources, has left at least three dead and dozens missing in the latest wave of attacks. 

The bloodshed followed growing tension as the Dassanech militia, previously unfamiliar with fishing, became drawn into the booming fishing economy after learning large-scale fishing techniques from Kenyan fishermen. 

What began as a cross-border partnership quickly turned into a rivalry as the militia sought to control the rich fishing zones of Natira and Lopeimukat along Lake Turkana. 

According to local sources, the Dassanech militia have now seized control of the Natiira and Lopeimuk belt , a prime fishing ground situated on Kenyan territory, pushing out Turkana fishermen in violation of international borders. 

The militia’s encroachment was largely driven by displacement caused by flooding along Ethiopia’s River Omo, forcing them to seek new livelihoods across the border. 

In the recent attack, at least 38 fishermen are reported missing, with three bodies recovered in what survivors described as a brutal ambush. 

The militia allegedly looted fishing gear, boats, and other valuables before retreating across the border. 

According to reports from local administrators, local fishermen have lost 551 nets and more than 50 boats on February 22, during the deadly militia ambush in Lake Turkana while 38 fishermen cannot be accounted for. 

However, the Ethiopian authorities have also made a counter claim that 13 of their fishermen were missing without further elaboration. 

The General administrator of Dassanech Woreda(District) Tadele Hate told the Kenyan authority at the border point that 13 of Dassanech tribesmen were allegedly missing during the conflict. 

“We also also lost our people in the conflicts. We appeal to the Kenyan government to investigate the matter, locate our fishermen and even recover some fishing gear, boats and nets that were stolen from our side,” Tadele said. 

A local elder, Lokopu Lobur, accused the Ethiopian of playing delaying tactics to cooperate in efforts to recover the stolen equipment or bring the attackers to justice. 

Diverting attention

“It’s almost two weeks now and nothing fruitful is coming out. We have reported these violations to the Ethiopian authorities, but there has been little action to recover our stolen boats or fishing gear.,” Lobur said. 

Lobur claimed that the Ethiopian authorities were trying to divert the attention of recovery bodies and fishing gear lost during the massacre by crafting counter claims that their people were also missing. 

“This is a ploy to divert our attention from the real matter of locating missing persons and the fishing gears and boats. It’s very  difficult  to substantiate this claim because there was no any retaliatalitory attack carried out by Kenyan fishermen after the massacre,” he stated. 

According to Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Dr Abdi Hassan, 66 survivors have been accounted for while 38 fishermen were still missing. 

Hassam said nine boats and 140 fishing nets have also been recovered from the scene of the attack  by Friday . 

“Yes, the joint operation is still ongoing. And as of yesterday (Friday) three bodies have been recovered and 38 fishermen are still missing. We are still in touch with our Ethiopian counterparts who have been very cooperative in the last few days to search and recover missing persons,”Hassan said. 

He said the Ethiopian had granted Kenyan authority full access to Lake Turkana to locate missing fishermen following a lengthy negotiation by the two governments. 

“They (Ethiopian security officials) have supported and participated in joint exercises in search and recovery efforts. We are optimistic that we will be able to conclude this operation so that we account for all missing Kenyans and continue to live peacefully , he said. 

The conflict highlights the growing tensions along the Kenya-Ethiopia border as climate change, resource scarcity, and economic interests fuel cross-border disputes. 

Naipekar Epusngole, a resident called for urgent diplomatic intervention to prevent further loss of lives and protect livelihoods on both sides of the border. 

“We appeal to both governments to address border issues by ensuring that the militia are pushed back to their territory. We are worried that their stay in Kenyan soil will brew more conflicts. We also demand the government to clearly demarcate the border and establish an immigration officer to check on the movement of people out of the country, Epusngole said. 

But with the latest massacre, locals are still leaving in fear of more attacks. 

An investigation by The Standard revealed that the  clashes, centered around the lucrative fishing resources in Lake Turkana and the discovery of Lake Napas, have raised tensions, with locals accusing the Kenyan government of failing to protect them from armed incursions. 

The Dassanech militia has reportedly set up camp inside Kenyan territory at Natiira, where they control the booming fishing trade and prevent Turkana fishermen from accessing the waters. The discovery of Lake Napas   two years ago, which is rich in fish  stretches near Lapur ranges and Merukuka in Kokuro location  in Kibish  has turned it into a battleground as militia want to dominate fishing zones. 

Government inaction

According to local accounts, the latest wave of violence began at Parar plains when a dispute over fishing nets escalated, resulting in the killing of three Dassanech militia members. 

In retaliation, the militia ambushed Kenyan fishermen, executing what witnesses described as a “massive massacre.”

One of the survivors of the massacre, James Erupe, 35, and father of six  says the Dassanech militia now dominates fishing in the lake, partnering with fish traders from Kenya’s Nyanza region and Somalis, who they consider allies and potential buyers. Unlike the Turkana fishermen, these traders are reportedly spared from attacks, further fueling suspicions of an orchestrated effort to displace the Turkana people. 

“We used to trade with the Dassanech community but it reached a point  where the element of mistrust  emanated. Let the government probe some dirty business along the Lake. The militia seem to have targeted a certain community. This looks like an ethnic profiling,” Erupe said. 

Locals have raised an alarm that the conflicts were likely to persist if the government fails to restore security at the border point. 

“We are being wiped out. The government is doing nothing to protect us. The militia are in our land, using our resources, and we are left defenseless. Sometimes police vehicles are used to transport fish from the border”  says a fisherman who requested anonymity.

Some reports suggest the Dassanech militia is seeking Kenyan national identity cards, a move that has further complicated the situation. 

In 2008, a local Dassanech chief, the late Lotikori Yarakal requested the Kenya government to issue the community with the Kenyan IDs since they claimed that they were in the middle of no man’s land. 

But the Kenyan authority declined the request citing some diplomatic row with the Ethiopian authority over citizenship. 

Turkana North legislator Paul Nabuin asked the government to beef up security along the Kenya –Ethiopia volatile border. 

The MP also called for the government to compensate victims and the survivors of the massacre since their source of livelihoods had been disrupted by militia attacks.  “The government must act now. Either the militia is evicted, or they should be registered as refugees. We cannot allow armed foreigners to control our land and resources while our people are being killed,” Nabuin said. 

Source privy to security said they were optimistic that a joint operation with Ethiopian security forces to recover stolen fishing gear and search for missing fishermen will yield positive results. 

However, locals remain skeptical of the government’s commitment to securing the border. 

They cited President William Ruto’s firm stance on border protection, questioning why no decisive action has been taken to drive the militia out of Kenyan territory. 

“The president said not an inch of Kenya should be lost, yet here we are, losing our land, our people, and our resources,” lamented a village elder. 

But Rift Valley Regional Commissioner assured residents that the government will strengthen security around Todonyang area.