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.
At a glance
- Interviews with eighteen key informants from communities, academia and organizations
- Examines the Zeise–Derashe and Guji–Sidama disputes handled by the Council
- Examines the Council’s relationship with the House of Federation
- 87 sources in the bibliography
Table of Contents
Abstract
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
Chapter Five: Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Recommendations
Objectives and Themes
This study assesses how the Council of Nationalities manages and resolves conflicts in Ethiopia’s Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regional State. It asks which strategies and interventions the Council employs and what challenges and opportunities shape its work.
- Ethnic federalism and the accommodation of diversity
- The Council’s constitutional mandate and institutional relationships
- Border, identity, self-administration and resource disputes
- Peace education, community participation and intervention
- The Zeise–Derashe and Guji–Sidama cases
- Qualitative interviews and documentary analysis
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1.3 Community Relations Theory
Community relations theory argues that conflict is caused by “ongoing polarization, mistrust and hostility between different groups within a community” (Ludin et al., 2000). In a community where there is no tolerance of diversity and mistrust stemming from different sources, the risk of conflict remains there. Such situations will more likely result in escalating suspicion, divergence and even fears of future victimization. In a similar vein, Hardlin (1995) argues that when the groups well-being or survival is threatened due to the mistrust and hostility they have with the other group(s) within the community, fears for the individual or the group’s future safety come to the forefront and the aspiration for inclusion in to one’s own ethnic entity becomes most important. This in turn magnifies the intensity of the problem by further embedding social polarization. Thus, conflict can also originate from the fears of communal groups about their future safety lived over their past and hence, accommodation are extremely difficult to make under such circumstances (Donald, 1997).
There was a history of conflict in the SNNPRS between Derashe and Konso that has led to the development of negative stereotypes and discrimination among the two ethnic groups (Conflict Analysis Reader in the SNNPRS, 2007). Evidently such history may make it difficult to integrate different ethnic and religious groups to live together in harmony because their experience makes it difficult for them to trust one another (MoFA; FDRE& GTC, 2004). This also hinders the flow of communication between ethnic groups that have such historical legacy and bended the perception that they have about each other. Therefore, community relations theory argues, in order to address such conflicts, the effort should be made to improve the communication and understanding between conflict groups, to promote greater tolerance and acceptance of diversity within the community.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter One: Introduces the research problem, objectives and questions, and explains the qualitative methodology, data sources and ethical considerations.
Chapter Two: Theoretical and Conceptual Framework: Discusses theories of conflict and concepts including ethnicity, dispute settlement and federalism.
Chapter Three: An Overview of the Historical Development of the Ethiopian Federal System: Traces Ethiopian federalism and compares traditional and formal conflict-resolution institutions, including the House of Federation and the Council of Nationalities.
Chapter Four: The Role of Council of Nationalities in Managing and Resolving Conflicts in the SNNPRS: Examines the Council’s mandate, strategies, interventions, challenges and opportunities through regional disputes and two selected cases.
Chapter Five: Conclusion and Recommendation: Draws together the study’s assessment and proposes measures concerning early intervention, cooperation and institutional learning.
Keywords
conflict management, conflict resolution, Council of Nationalities, SNNPRS, Ethiopia, ethnic federalism, ethnic conflict, self-determination, border disputes, natural resources, peace education, qualitative interviews, indigenous institutions, Zeise and Derashe, Guji and Sidama
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this study about?
It examines the role of the Council of Nationalities in managing and resolving conflicts in Ethiopia’s Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regional State.
What are its central themes?
The study addresses ethnic federalism, conflict theories, institutional mandates, intervention strategies and disputes over identity, borders, self-administration and resources.
What is the main research objective?
The main objective is to assess how the Council carries out its conflict-management and resolution mandate, including the strategies, interventions, challenges and opportunities involved.
What research method does the author use?
The author uses a qualitative approach, combining documentary review with in-depth, largely face-to-face unstructured interviews and thematic analysis.
What does the main part of the study examine?
It examines the Council’s constitutional responsibilities, conflict-resolution strategies and interventions, as well as institutional challenges and selected disputes.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include ethnic federalism, conflict management, conflict resolution, the Council of Nationalities, peace education and indigenous institutions.
Which disputes receive focused case analysis?
The author examines the Zeise–Derashe and Guji–Sidama conflicts and the Council’s involvement in addressing them.
How are traditional institutions considered?
The study discusses community elders, religious leaders and other indigenous conflict-resolution actors alongside formal governmental institutions.
How does the study compare the Council with the House of Federation?
It considers their constitutional arrangements, representation and respective responsibilities for addressing disputes.
- Quote paper
- Yideg Munana (Author), 2012, Conflict Management and Resolution in the SNNPRS (Ethiopia). The Role of Council of Nationalities As Panacea?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/956098
