Conflict Management and Resolution in the SNNPRS (Ethiopia). The Role of Council of Nationalities As Panacea?

Master's Thesis , 2012 , 84 Pages , Grade: 3.50

Politics - Topic: Peace and Conflict, Security

After the collapse of the Derg regime in 1991, Ethiopia adopted, its first Federal Democratic Constitution in 1995. Since then, Ethiopia is declared as a federal state encompassing various ethno-linguistic groups. Accordingly, the federation has comprised nine regional states and two city administrations. One of the members of the federation is the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Regional State. The Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region witnessed interethnic disputes such as identity, border and resource conflicts that caused unnecessary consequence. In the 2001constitution adopted by the Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, the Council of Nationalities was institutionalized with a number of constitutional mandates of which dispute management and resolution is the prominent one. It is in light of this power that aims at examining how the Council fulfils this constitutional mandate.

For the accomplishment of the objective of the study, largely secondary data and primary data obtained through unstructured interviews were used. In doing so, some cases entertained by the Council of Nationalities is analysed. The Council of Nationalities entertained a number of interethnic conflicts and resolved them accordingly. With regard to this, the Council of Nationalities engaged in numerous inter-ethnics conflict resolutions submitted to it by the respective contending ethnic groups. The conflicts have been managed and resolved mainly through deploying security force and round the table discussion in collaboration with indigenous conflict resolution institutions. But when we see its achievement in discharging its mandate properly, delays to make decision timely, late to intervene in conflicts, and absence of early warning system to provide information timely are some among the failures of CoN. Therefore, though there are some achievements in rendering peace education in some parts of the region, the Council of Nationalities has deficiencies in discharging its duties; conflict management and resolution aspects of its responsibilities in particular.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Chapter One
• 1.1 Background of the Study
• 1.2 Statement of the Problem
• 1.3 Objectives
• 1.3.1 General Objective
• 1.3.2 Specific Objectives
• 1.4 Research Questions
• 1.5 Scope of the study
• 1.6 Significance of the Study
• 1.7 Limitation of the Study
• 1.8 Methodology and Methods of the Study
• 1.8.1 Data Sources
• 1.8.1.1 Document Review
• 1.8.1.2 Key Informant Interview
• 1.8.2 Data Analysis
• 1.8.3 Ethical Considerations
• 1.8.4 Organization of the Study
• Chapter Two: Theoretical and Conceptual Framework
• 2.1 Theoretical Framework
• 2.1.1 Major Theories of Conflict
• 2.1.1.1 Identity Theory
• 2.1.1.2 Structural Conflict Theory
• 2.1.1.3 Community Relations Theory
• 2.2 Conceptual Framework
• 2.2.1 Understanding Conflict
• 2.2.2 Dispute Settlement
• 2.2.2.1 Conflict Management
• 2.2.2.2 Conflict Resolution
• 2.2.3 Ethnicity, Federalism and Conflict
• 2.2.3.1 Understanding of Ethnicity, Nation and Nationality
• 2.2.3.2 Understanding Ethnic Conflict
• 2.2.3.3 Mechanisms of Managing and Resolving Ethnic Conflict
• 2.4 Federalism and Conflict
• 2.4.1 The Meaning of Federalism
• 2.4.2 Federalism and Federation
• 2.4.3 Conflict Resolution Mechanisms in Federal System(s)
• Chapter Three: An Overview of the Historical Development of the Ethiopian Federal System
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 The Rational of Ethnic Based Federal System in Ethiopia
• 3.2.1 Ethnic Federalism in Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Regional State
• 3.3 Trends of Conflict Management in Federal Ethiopia
• 3.3.1 Conflict Management and Resolution Mechanisms in Federal Ethiopia
• 3.3.1.1 Traditional Conflict Resolution Mechanism in Federal Ethiopia
• 3.3.1.2 Formal Conflict Management and Resolution Mechanisms in Ethiopia
• 3.4 Institutional Structure of HoF and CoN (SNNPRS) and their Similarities and Differences in terms of Constitutional Set up and Principles
• 3.4.1 The Similarity between the House of Federation and Council of Nationalities in terms of Selection and Representation
• 3.4.2 The Difference between the House of Federation and Council of Nationalities in terms of Representation and their Function
• Chapter Four: The Role of Council of Nationalities in Managing and Resolving Conflicts in the SNNPRS
• 4.1 Mandates of the Council of Nationalities
• 4.2 Conflicts in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Regional State: An overview
• 4.2.1 Border Conflict in the SNNPRS
• 4.2.2 Identity Conflicts in the SNNPRS
• 4.2.3 Question of Self Administration and Conflicts in the SNNPRS
• 4.2.4 Conflict over Natural Resource in the SNNPRS
• 4.3 Conflict Management and Resolution Strategies of the Council of Nationalities
• 4.3.1 Making all Rounded Participation on Conflict Resolving Activities
• 4.3.2 Extending Peace Education
• 4.3.3 Reducing Damage and Creating a Suitable Information Net Work for Conflict Resolution Activities
• 4.4 Intervention of Council of Nationalities in Conflict Ridden Areas of the SNNPRS
• 4.4.1 The Role of the CoN in Deploying Security force while Violent Conflict emerged in the SNNPRS
• 4.5 Challenges and Prospects of Council of Nationalities in Discharging Its Constitutional Duties
• 4.5.1 Challenges of the Council of Nationalities (SNNPRS)
• 4.5.1.1 Lack of Good Governance in the SNNPRS
• 4.5.1.2 Financial Constraints and Shortage of Skilled Man Power
• 4.5.1.3 Absence of Systematic Strategy to Deal and Handle Cases Entered to CoN
• 4.5.1.4 Unlawful Horizontal and Vertical Intervention in Handling Conflicts
• 4.5.2 Prospects of the Council of Nationalities
• 4.5.2.1 Working with Different Stakeholder Cooperatively
• 4.5.2.2 Preparing Strategy of Conflict Resolution (SRC) and Conflict Analysis Reader of the SNNPRS
• 4.6 Analysis of Some Entertained Cases by the Council of Nationalities
• 4.6.1 An Overview of Zeise and Derashe Conflict
• 4.6.1.1 The Role of the Council of Nationalities in Handling Zeise and Derashe Case
• 4.6.1.2 The Strength of CoN during the Dispute Settlement Process of Zeise and Derashe
• 4.6.1.3 Weakness of Council of Nationalities in the Zeise and Derashe Dispute Settlement and Reconciliation Process
• 4.6.2. An Overview of Guji and Sidama Conflict
• 4.6.2.1 The Role of the CoN in Managing and Resolving the Guji-Sidama Conflict
• 4.6.2.1.1 The Strength of the CoN in the Guji and Sidama Dispute Settlement Process
• 4.6.2.1.2 The Weakness of the CoN during the Dispute Resolution Process of the Guji and Sidama

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis examines the role of the Council of Nationalities (CoN) in managing and resolving conflict in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Regional State (SNNPRS) of Ethiopia. The study aims to understand the CoN's mandate, strategies, and effectiveness in addressing various conflicts within the region.

• The historical development and current context of the Ethiopian federal system, including ethnic federalism and its implications for conflict management.
• The CoN's mandate and the challenges it faces in fulfilling its constitutional duties in managing and resolving conflicts.
• The role of the CoN in addressing specific conflicts in the SNNPRS, including border disputes, identity conflicts, and resource conflicts.
• The CoN's strengths and weaknesses in its dispute settlement and reconciliation processes.
• The impact of the CoN's intervention on conflict resolution in the SNNPRS, and the prospects for future success.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter one sets the stage for the study by providing a background on the SNNPRS and outlining the problem statement, objectives, research questions, scope, significance, limitations, and methodology. Chapter two lays the theoretical foundation for the study, exploring major theories of conflict and analyzing the concepts of ethnicity, federalism, and conflict. Chapter three provides an overview of the historical development of the Ethiopian federal system, emphasizing the role of ethnic federalism in the SNNPRS. It analyzes the trends of conflict management and resolution mechanisms in the Ethiopian context. Chapter four delves into the role of the CoN in managing and resolving conflicts in the SNNPRS. It explores the mandates, strategies, and interventions of the CoN in specific conflict zones. It also analyzes the CoN's challenges and prospects in fulfilling its constitutional duties.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The thesis focuses on conflict management and resolution, the role of the Council of Nationalities, ethnic federalism, dispute settlement, reconciliation processes, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Regional State (SNNPRS) in Ethiopia. The study examines the challenges and prospects of the CoN in addressing various conflicts within the SNNPRS, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of its interventions.

• College: Addis Ababa University (INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND SECURITY)
• Course: conflict resolution
• Grade: 3.50
• Author: Yideg Munana (Author)
• Publication Year: 2012
• Pages: 84
• Catalog Number: V956098
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346321893
• ISBN (Book): 9783346321909
• Language: English
• Tags: conflict, management, resolution, snnprs, ethiopia, role, council, nationalities, panacea