Nyangatom people in the context of Ilemi Triangle

The Mursi (or Mun as they refer to themselves) are a Surmic ethnic group in Ethiopia. They principally reside in the Debub Omo Zone of the South Ethiopia Regional State, close to the border with South Sudan. According to the 2007 national census, there are 11,500 Mursi, 848 of whom live in urban areas; of the total number, 92.25% live in the South Ethiopia Regional State.

Surrounded by mountains between the Omo River and its tributary the Mago, the home of the Mursi is one of the most isolated regions of the country. Their neighbors include the Aari, the Banna, the Mekan, the Karo, the Kwegu, the Nyangatom and the Suri. They are grouped together with the Me'en and Kwegu by the Ethiopian government under the name Surma.

The Ethiopia–Kenya border was first identified by the United Kingdom in 1907 and refined in 1947 in the aftermath of the East African Campaign of World War II. When Kenya became independent, it was finally approved in 1970. The border stretches 861 kilometers bounded by Marsabit, Turkana, Wajir and Mandera Counties on the side of Kenya, and Borena and Dhawa Zones in the Ethiopian side. The border features enormous biodiversity and wildlife, most notably, several communities such as Mursi, Nyangatom, Daasanach and Turkana, which are agro-pastoralist in response to harsh climate and erratic weather patterns.

Meanwhile, the prevalence of high poverty, poor infrastructure and low literacy and education has been contributed for several conflicts, recurring drought and land degradation resulted from natural resources warfare.