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Addis Ababa University Libraries Electronic Thesis and Dissertations: AAU-ETD! >
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Thesis - Federalism >
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http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3308
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| Title: | THE ISSA-AFAR CONFLICT IN the POST-1991 ETHIOPIA |
| Authors: | Mu’uz, Gidey |
| Advisors: | BEROUK MESFIN |
| Copyright: | Jun-2009 |
| Date Added: | 5-Jul-2012 |
| Abstract: | The Afar and Issa of Ethiopia have long been interlocked in protracted violent conflict since
the turn of twenty Centaury to date. The conflict has been involving various causes, actors
and impacts at different periods. Changes in the context of conflict have been contributing to
the nature and dynamics of the conflict. In addition to the human, material, environmental
and social damage engendered by the conflict, the area of the conflict is located in one of the
politico-military significant region of the country. Ethio-Djibouti tramp road and rail way line
are located at the heart of the epicenter. Moreover, the most economically exploited river in
Ethiopia-Awash is also the central foci of the conflict. Transhumance pastoralist mode of the
Afar for production is the most dominant livelihood. Followed by agro-pastoralist and
production illicit trade (mainly Afars in middle and lower Awash valley) contributes to the
economy of the area.
The area, except for the Awash basin, is dominantly arid and semi arid, bush land, seasonal
rivers, ponds, wells are source of water provision. Environmental degradation and shrinking
pastoralist ecosystem has deteriorated the carrying capacity of the area in the face of huge
number of cattle. There is vast Small arms and light weapons circulation. However, vast area
of huge economic significance has been left as no man’s land that often interface pastoralist
in conflicts. Another epicenter of conflict is more than 80 km long Issa occupied territory in
side Afar regional state the status of which is not yet determined. Issa penetration in to Afar
land often justified by Issa pastoralists as desperate search for resources-matter of survival to
which Afar resistance is viewed by Issa as inhuman greed.
On the other hand, the Afar side view it as well planned eviction and invasion of strategic
Afar land that chased them 180 km long across path and more than 80 km in bird fly.
Government intervention has not been more than securing the regular traffic flow from the
coast of Djibouti. Until very recent months violence is raging in the area.
The conflict involved political, economic, cultural, environmental issues, multitude of actors
at various levels. In terms of space the conflict covers wide area extending over more than
230 km long territory in the middle and Awash valley: from Detbahiri, 30km south of
Ayisaeta in the Afar region up to the Hiliedegiy planes 40 km south of Awash station.
Administratively, the conflict interfaced Shinile zone of Issa-Somali and zone one (Ayisaeta)
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and zone three of (Awash station) Afar (see the map below). The major contention areas
involve the area marked in the map along the Ethio-Djibouti tarmac road. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3308 |
| Appears in: | Thesis - Federalism
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