**I.
Examining the Impact of Colonial Borders on the Afar**
* **Elites and Political Party Leaders:**
* **1. How have colonial borders impacted the socio-economic, political, and cultural cohesion of the
Afar people, who are now divided across three countries?**
* **2. How do you perceive the impact of colonial borders on the political identity and marginalization
of the Afar people in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea?**
* **3. How do colonial borders influence the ability of political parties to effectively represent the
interests of the Afar people across these three countries?**
* **Political Leaders or Government Officials:**
* **1. How have historical colonial boundaries influenced the governance and development of the
Afar regions within your country?**
* **2. How do you assess the impact of colonial borders on the political integration and economic
development of the Afar people within your country?**
* **Community Leaders, Elders, and Clan Leaders:**
* **1. How has the division of the Afar people by colonial borders impacted their unity and cultural
identity?**
* **2. How do Afar communities in different countries maintain their sense of shared identity and
cultural continuity despite being separated by national borders?**
* **Educated Figures, Geopolitical Analysts, and Historians:**
* **1. How do you interpret the historical context of colonialism in the Horn of Africa, particularly
with regard to the division of the Afar people across Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea?**
* **2. What are the most significant political, social, and economic consequences of colonial
boundaries for the Afar community?**
* **3. How do you think the Afar people have navigated their multiple national identities in light of
colonial legacies and the modern nation-states?**
* **Ambassadors and Political Advisors:**
* **1. How have colonial-era borders influenced the diplomatic relations between Ethiopia, Djibouti,
and Eritrea, especially concerning the Afar populations?**
**II. Analyzing Socio-economic and Political Marginalization**
* **Elites and Political Party Leaders:**
* **1. What are the key socio-economic and political challenges facing the Afar people in your
country, and how do these challenges contribute to their marginalization?**
* **2. Do you believe there is sufficient political representation for the Afar in the national
governments of Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea?**
* **3. How do you think the concept of "citizenship" is viewed differently by the Afars compared to
the dominant ethnic groups in your country?**
* **Political Leaders or Government Officials:**
* **2. What measures has the government taken to ensure the political and economic inclusion of the
Afar people within the national context?**
* **3. In your opinion, what are the key obstacles preventing the full political representation of the
Afar in national politics?**
* **Community Leaders, Elders, and Clan Leaders:**
* **2. What are the most significant socio-economic challenges the Afar communities face today, and
how do these challenges affect your daily life?**
* **Educated Figures, Geopolitical Analysts, and Historians:**
* **4. What do you believe are the main factors that contribute to the ongoing political and economic
marginalization of the Afar in the Horn of Africa?**
* **Lawyers and University Professors:**
* **2. How do colonial legacies continue to influence the legal and political status of the Afar people
in your country?**
* **3. How does the concept of citizenship, as defined by national laws, affect the Afar people,
particularly in terms of their ability to fully participate in governance and access state resources?**
**III. Evaluating the Afar Triangle/Sidhamo Movement**
* **Elites and Political Party Leaders:**
* **6. What is your perspective on the Afar Triangle/Sidhamo movement and its calls for greater
political rights and recognition?**
* **Political Leaders or Government Officials:**
* **4. How does the government view the Afar people’s activism and political movement, and what
steps are being taken to address the grievances raised by these groups?**
* **Community Leaders, Elders, and Clan Leaders:**
* **4. In your view, how can the governments of the three countries address the concerns and
grievances of the Afar people?**
* **Educated Figures, Geopolitical Analysts, and Historians:**
* **5. How do you view the current political movements among the Afar people, such as the Afar
Triangle movement, and their potential to reshape the region’s governance?**
* **Leaders of Afar Resistance Movements in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Djibouti:**
* **1. What are the primary objectives of the Afar resistance movements and how do they challenge
the current state structures in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea?**
* **3. How do you perceive the state's response to Afar political activism, and what has been the
impact of this response on the resistance movements?**
* **4. What is the role of the Afar resistance movements in reshaping the concept of citizenship and
national identity for the Afar people?**
* **Ambassadors and Political Advisors:**
* **4. What do you believe is the international community's responsibility in supporting the political
aspirations and human rights of the Afar people?**
* **5. How do political advisors view the impact of the Afar Triangle movement on regional peace and
stability, and what steps should be taken to address the grievances of the Afar people within the
political frameworks of the three countries?**
**IV. Exploring Government Responses and Regional Dynamics**
* **Political Leaders or Government Officials:**
* **5. Can you comment on the relationship between the government and the Afar resistance
movements? Is there any cooperation, or is there mostly tension and conflict?**
* **Leaders of Afar Resistance Movements in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Djibouti:**
* **2. How do colonial borders continue to shape the resistance efforts and the demands for greater
autonomy and political rights for the Afar people?**
* **5. How do these movements navigate the complex political environment of multiple states with
differing governance systems?**
* **Former Security Officers and Military Personnel:**
* **1. How has the state’s treatment of the Afar people influenced security policies in your country,
particularly in relation to border security and internal conflicts?**
* **3. How has the political activism of the Afar people been responded to by the state security
forces, and what has been the impact of this response on the community?**
* **Ambassadors and Political Advisors:**
* **1. From a diplomatic perspective, how do the political struggles of the Afar people in Ethiopia,
Djibouti, and Eritrea affect regional stability and international relations?**
This revised set of questions aims to provide a more focused and in-depth examination of the key
themes you've specified.
