Am I stateless because I am a nomad?
Published: 1/Avr/2009
Source: Forced Migration Review
By Ekuru Aukot
As a pastoralist from Turkana, who am I and where are my nationality and citizenship?
I hail from the Ateker nation, an Itung’a-speaking group, bound by ethno-linguistic ties and practising nomadic pastoralism as our main livelihood activity. The Ateker inhabit the borderland area straddling four countries – Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
They occupy the peripheral semi-arid and arid borders of their respective nation-states and are arguably the most marginalised peoples there. This is also one of the most conflict-prone zones in the Horn and East Africa region, with both intra- and inter-ethnic conflicts with other Ateker groups and non-Ateker neighbouring communities. The zone also suffers from weak or absent state institutions.
Download from Forced Migration Review: 
aukot.pdf