The Roles and Challenges of the Ethiopian Defense Force in the Stability and Support Operation the Gedeo - Guji Violent Ethnic Conflict

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Date

2021-07

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Nowadays ethnic based conflicts have been mushrooming in the different parts of the country. These conflicts became deep, complicated and beyond the capacity of the regional state(s) from time to time. These conflicts have been claiming the lives of many people and created massive displacement, destruction of immense public and private property. To stabilize the conflict areas and support the displaced people, the Defense Force has been deployed to different areas of the country. Therefore, this study becomes very crucial for the Ministry of Defense to gain lessons from the Guji and Gedeo ethnic conflict so that it could enable it to accomplish its mission effectively. To conduct the study, a descriptive research design was used. Primary and secondary sources of data were used in this research. 40 key informants from the different government offices of Federal government and the two regional States were used for interview and 42 key informants from local Communities of Gedeo ethnic group was used for a group discussion. Totally 82 respondents who have direct relation, better understanding, and experience were selected purposively from the above category of people. The data were analyzed and interpreted qualitatively. To ensure the credibility of the study the researcher has employed document analysis as triangulation for interview and focus group discussion. Finally, the result of the study revealed that the main cause of the Guji- Gedeo ethnic conflicts was politicians, elites who found at different layers. The Ministry of Defense had no the overall readiness to address the problem before the conflict broke out. During the operation, the Defense Force has lacked the required knowledge and skills on how it is going to perform the tasks of stability and support operation. However, it played a significant role and tried to handle and the conflict by reducing its intensity which was escalating and expanding to other areas every minute. The proclamation No. 359/2003 and the politicians of the two regional states were great challenges to the Defense Force to intervene on time before the conflict broke out. Therefore, it is recommended that the Ministry of Defense should have the whole readiness consistently and permanently work together with the different stakeholders. The force should deploy to any conflict areas without the consent of the regional state(s). To do so, the proclamation No 359/2003 of the federal government should be revised and the mandate be given to a legitimate body recommended by the researcher which is to be established and it has to be led by the Prime Minister and Heads of regional State(s). This would help the Ministry of Defense to be proactive instead of being reactive.

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