Burji Zone turns to traditional elders and the Geda system while Kore Zone relies on directives to address cross-border raids from West Guji
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Regional security officials in southern Ethiopia’s Burji and Kore zones report contrasting operational realities as they address recurring cross-border attacks from adjacent woredas in the Oromia region.
Zonal security leaders report that persistent armed incursions continue to jeopardize agrarian and pastoral livelihoods along the regional administrative boundary. Authorities attribute this instability to security vacuums left by collapsed government administrative structures in neighboring West Guji Zone, allowing armed groups to conduct unimpeded raids.
Burji Zone Police Commander Inspector Zemede Bantore stated that armed forces entering from West Guji have launched organized, heavy-weapons assaults on local farming communities. These attacks have caused civilian fatalities, livestock looting, property destruction, and mass displacement across border kebeles. Inspector Zemede explained that security deteriorated after federal defense forces redeployed from front-line border posts to northern operational theaters, leaving local security forces overwhelmed.
Without federal defense reinforcements, Burji authorities have initiated traditional mediation using local elder networks and the Geda system. The strategy aims to establish dialogue between Burji elders and West Guji community leaders to restrain local youth and prevent armed groups—identified by authorities as OLF-Shene and organized local “Fole” formations—from crossing zonal boundaries.
In contrast, Chief Inspector Sidama Madamo, Head of the Kore Zone Police Department, stated that local security conditions in Kore Zone remain unfavorable for community-level mediation. Because local administrative structures in neighboring border districts like Gelana are largely non-functional, Kore officials rely on joint security directives from consultations with regional police commissions, regional peace and security offices, and federal military leadership.
While regional special forces provide limited security support in Kore Zone, Burji officials emphasized that their jurisdiction operates without regional special force reinforcement. Both zonal police leaderships have reiterated calls for immediate federal security intervention and permanent troop deployments to secure agricultural zones and restore stability for border populations.
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