Ethiopia is the home of peoples with diverse cultures.

Why do you think ethnic

tensions rise in Ethiopia today? What do you suggest as a solution to bring
peace and stability in the country?

 Historical background

Ethiopia is an ancient country with a number of peculiarities; some of which are independence (free
from colonialism), drought, poverty, and indigenous scripts. Despite being Africa’s oldest independent
country, Ethiopia is one of Africa’s poorest states, better known for its periodic droughts, famines, and
intermittent civil conflicts.

 Ethnic conflicts in Ethiopia

Apart from the conflicts stated in the appendix, illustrations provided by Human Rights
Watch Amnesty International Moresh Wegenie Amhara Organization and the Human Rights
Council stated that there were a number of cases of ethnic tension and ethnic cleansing
happening in the country.

Fuelled by ethnic federalism or the politicization of tribal identity, the regional government
officials in the Oromia Regional State forcibly evicted about one hundred thousand ethnic
Amhara from their homes. The majority of ethnic Amhara living in Western Harergie, Western
Arsi, Arbagugu, Jimma, Guraferda, Wellega, Afar, Benshangul, and Western Shoa were
displaced, killed or mistreated because of their ethnicity – which they never had a chance to
choose before birth. According to these sources, the forced exclusion of people from their
places of residence has been continuing (Human Rights Council

These were some of the disputes recorded by the Human Rights Council. The major recurring
causes of the conflict were disagreements about the possession or use of land, grazing land or
water resources, and about settlements, regional hegemony, access to State resources (funds,
jobs, investments) and language policy in education and administration also states that in the
southern region there is a large potential for inter-ethnic struggles for regional hegemony
because of the region’s ethnic heterogeneity, but that until now, conflicts over self-government
and representation have taken place only at local level in the zones or woreda. Examples of
such conflicts are the language issue in Wolaita in North Omo zone, the Silte’s request for
independence from the rest of the Gurage zone and conflicts between Suri and Dizi pastoralist
groups in South Omo zone

The western lowland regions of Benishangul-Gumuz and Gambelia have both a majority
consisting of two major ethnic groups and a minority of several smaller ones. In Gambelia, the
Nuer and the Anwak have fought for regional hegemony. In Benishangul-Gumuz, the Berta and
the Gumuz, who together make up the majority of the population, have been at odds with each
other. In both states, the two majority groups fought against each other for the control of the
regional government. In Somali, the conflicts have been between different pastoralist clans of
the Somali tribe. In Afar region, which is also a pastoralist and clan based society, the same
problem has been experienced

 Empirical Causes of conflicts?

The cause of conflict in Ethiopia has been largely due to territorial boundary, limited natural
resources and the search for new economic resources, proliferation of illegal fire arms,
inadequate policing and state security arrangements, diminishing the role of the traditional
institutions, competition over control and access to natural resources The relationship between
the two communities will be concluded a both hostile and peaceful. The two communities in
the area have strong relationship in social and cultural ties. The existing situation in the area
needs to look in many directions – past and present. The data from the field work indicates that
conflicts in the area are accumulative results of historical, social and political context. Some the
causes are;

What do you think are the major causes of ethnic conflicts in Ethiopia?

The major recurring causes of the conflict were disagreements about the possession or
use of land, grazing land or water resources, and about settlements, regional
hegemony, access to State resources (funds, jobs, investments) and language policy in
education and administration

1 Structural factors

Weak or failed states often serve as an impetus for ethnic conflict. Many times such states are
artificial products that were created without regard for the existing ethnic and political divisions
within their borders, and their political and legal institutions tend to be ineffective.

Violent conflicts are likely if changes in the economic situation of a state (e.g., cuts in foreign
aid, corruption, administrative incompetence, and the inability to promote economic stability) are
associated with the deterioration of the political situation in the country and the mobilization of
ethnic groups. Group rivalry can lead to military mobilization, which leads to general armament
of all

ethnic groups within the state

That causes a security dilemma: by making efforts to provide a means with which to defend
themselves, ethnic groups often threaten the security of others, whose reactions to that threat
may, in turn, increase the threat level faced by the original group or groups. Violent conflicts and
internal security dilemmas lead to massive human-rights violations, refugee flows, and spillover
effects with the potential to destabilize whole regions.
Ethnic geography—the geographic distribution and territorial concentration of ethnic groups in
pluralistic states—also contributes to the likelihood of violent ethnic conflict. Ethnic conflict is
particularly common in states with territorially concentrated ethnic groups located near a border
or with ethnic kin in an adjacent state. Those groups show high levels of organization and
increased group cohesion and are able to use shared homelands as a territorial base for their
political struggle.

2 Political factors
Ethnic conflict is particularly likely in states where ethnic groups lack sufficient representation in
public and political institutions. Authoritarian one-party regimes with discriminatory legislation
and a lack of opportunities for ethnic groups to participate in state decision-making processes are
particularly prone to ethnic conflict. Liberal democracies that focus on the ideals of inclusion,
political debate, and the attempt to reach consensus among all participants in the political
process facilitate nonviolent ethnopolitical action and are thus less likely to
experience rebellion or uprisings
Exclusionary national ideologies may also serve as a source of conflict. Nationalism and, in an
increased form, citizenship based on ethnic distinctions are especially dangerous because such
ideologies tend to flourish in situations of political uncertainty and economic collapse. Other
forms of exclusionary national ideologies include religious fundamentalism and supremacist
fascist expressions.

The existence, or lack of existence, of stable domestic intergroup relations can also have a
bearing on whether violent ethnic conflict is likely to occur. Violent conflict is particularly
probable if the claims of the various ethnic groups are incongruous, if groups have strength and
are organized, if it is possible for groups to take action, if success is a feasible outcome, and if
there is a tangible fear of suppression and discrimination on the basis of ethnicity.
The tactics that may be utilized by leaders and elites during political turmoil also affect the
likelihood of violent ethnic conflict. Scapegoating, hate speech, and manipulation of the mass
media are means that have the potential to heighten existing discord between ethnic groups.

3 Economic and social factors

Economic problems such as slowdowns, stagnation, deterioration, and complete collapse are
sources of state destabilization and can lead to increased tensions and competition among ethnic
groups. Discriminatory economic systems in which various groups are faced with inequitable
options (in terms of economic opportunities, access to land and other resources, standards of
living, and the like) generate resentment and also contribute to
tensions and destabilization. Fast economic transitions (e.g., from centrally planned to market
economies) and development can also aggravate instability by creating favourable conditions for
domestic migration, urbanization, and other societal changes to which the existing political and
social structures might not be able to adapt. These changes also can raise hopes for economic and
political gains that might not come to fruition and might then serve as a source of frustration.

4 Cultural or perceptual factors

Cultural factors such as problematic group histories, stereotypical perceptions, and grievances
over cultural discrimination—including limitations on religious and cultural practices, unequal
educational opportunities, and restrictions on the use of minority languages are common causes
of ethnic conflict. In addition, a weakening of traditional forms of dispute settlement (such as a
council of elders) changes the environment for the resolution of ethnic disputes. Brown notes
that proximate causes can be situated within a matrix that identifies them as being instigated at
either an elite level or a mass level and as being instigated by developments that occur internally
or externally. He thus identifies four main types of proximate causes of internal conflict: internal
mass-level factors, external mass-level factors, external elite-level factors, and internal elite-level
factors.

What do you suggest as a solution to bring peace and stability in the country

 The government should enforce the law well

 One nation should respect the other nation
 The society should avoid nationalism
 National consultation
 Enhancing public unity
 The government should create job opportunities and eliminate corruption
 Nations should resolve their issues through dialogue, not through conflict
 Do not turn political disputes into ethnicity
 The government should properly fulfill the mandate of the people

 Interest Based Problem Solving

1. Separate people from the problem
2. Concentrate on the merits
3. Focus on interests instead of positions
4. Develop options for mutual gains
5. Use objective criteria

 Conflict Assessment: Identifying Stakeholders and their Interests

1. Identifying the issues
2. Identifying the stakeholders
3. Legitimacy of outcomes defined by involvement of the right stakeholders
4. Importance of a conflict assessment

 Successful Conflict Resolution

1. When solution meets stakeholders’ interests
2. When stakeholders either continue to trust and respect one another, or their mutual
3. trust and respect is restored or improved
4. When productive future interactions are possible
5. When stakeholders feel they can approach each other safely to problem solve
6. When there is genuine respect between stakeholders