In the Mandera Triangle, a region straddling the borders of Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia, a cross-border network of women is redefining peacebuilding in one of the Horn of Africa’s most fragile landscapes.
Long sidelined from decision-making, these women are now taking centre stage in mediation, conflict prevention, and community reconciliation through an initiative supported by the Building Opportunities for Resilience in the Horn of Africa (BORESHA-NABAD) consortium, led by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
The network, comprising 130 women from border communities, is creating safe and inclusive spaces for women’s participation in peace and security processes.
Through this platform, members engage in cross-border dialogues, mediate local disputes, and influence the development of peace agreements and community safety strategies in areas historically affected by inter-clan conflict and insecurity.
The initiative has not only strengthened inter-communal relations but also increased women’s representation in peace and disaster risk reduction (DRR) committees.
Many of these women now play active roles in the design, implementation, and monitoring of local peacebuilding and development initiatives, contributing to more inclusive and durable outcomes.
Highlighting the significance of the effort, DRC emphasised that empowering women to participate in peacebuilding ensures that local solutions are more representative and sustainable.
“Inclusive peace is sustainable peace,” the organisation noted, urging governments, civil society, donors, and the private sector to invest in women-led peacebuilding efforts.
As the world marks 25 years since the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, the Mandera Triangle initiative stands as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of women’s leadership in conflict-affected regions.
Through resilience, collaboration, and determination, the women of the Mandera Triangle are not just bridging borders; they are building peace across them.