Mandera triangle

3°55′N 41°50′E

The Mandera triangle is a geographical region in Eastern Africa where the countries of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia meet.[1] The tri-border region is centered on the city of Mandera in Mandera County and corresponds with the Juba and Shabelle river basins.[2][3]

The residents of the area are mainly ethnic Somalis.[4] Pastoralists routinely move across the various borders while seeking water and pasture for their herds.[5] Experiencing large-scale violence as a result of the civil strife in Somalia, engagements between the Ethiopian military and Somali insurgents, inter-clan warfare, livestock raids between rival herders, targeted attacks, and frequent banditry, the United States Department of State has labeled the area "one of the most conflict-prone areas in the world".[2] It has been reported that weapons shipments from Yemen arrive in Somalia, then make their way across the Mandera triangle prior to being moved across the rest of the African continent.[1]