The Crisis in the Horn of Africa: Nomads with no Future

Shemiah Foster

Ethnicity and Religion

Current Event #4

The Crisis in the Horn of Africa: Nomads with no Future

This article was basically about the Nomads of East Africa way of life being threatened because of drought, unfair trade laws, and the growth of tourism in that region. More than 350 nomadic herdsmen and women from 60 tribes in 18 countries gathered to discuss their future. They discussed ways to make changes that are needed for their survival. Majority of their issues have to be worked out within their community, because the government rarely gets involved in their affairs.

From my understanding of this article the nomadic people of East Africa are having all these problems because of the recent drought. Since this drought occurred supplies have become limited for their communities and they are all struggling to stay afloat, which then causes conflict between different Nomadic clans. Another issue plaguing the nomadic clans is that their communities don't have any representation in the government, so their dilemmas go unheard and not considered. I think the point of this gathering was to get some of the nomadic tribes that have been battling together to began peace talks among their communities.



Steve Bloomfield. The Independent. http://news.independent.co.UK/world/africa/article1372028.ece