Security Management in Gambella: Legal Framework and institutional set up
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Having seen its great importance and the role it can play in protecting security of individuals,
their well-beings and the state; this study was intended to assess internal security management
and identify its practical problems in Gambella regional state. It proposes the ways of
enhancement in internal security management activities by making communities actors of all
local functions. The FDRE Constitution has decentralized powers and functions to regional
states. Pursuant to this, the GNRS Constitution provides power to the security institutions at
regional level. The literature describes the need for devolution of power, merit based
recruitment, implementing activities people-centered, democratic and autonomous security
institutions. Officials are better responsive and accountable for their actions to nurture
democratic governance and development. This study has employed a qualitative methods. The
focus group discussion, interview and observation were utilized as primary data collection
techniques. The primary data were gathered from non-random sampling of two Weredas and one
city administration in the study region: Godere Wereda, Itang Special Wereda, and Gambella
Town Administration. The research participants include youth, students, farmers, women,
teachers, religious leaders, and the regional and Wereda executives. The secondary sources of
data are acquired from different books, Constitutions, proclamations, journals, documents from
the region and Wereda offices, academic dissertations and websites. The ethical values and
consent of the participants was maintained. The analysis of findings indicated that internal
security management in the region are practically performed in unorganized way. Government
officials were not accountable and decision-making process was accomplished in a concealed
manner. Findings of the research also revealed lack of participation of community, high illegal
arm mobility, problems of land and related issues, cross border incursions, high influx of
refugees and officials have a problem in providing speedy responses to the public on time. There
are also practices like lack of justice, improper recruitment of security personnel, lack of
professional ethics, lack of loyalty and lack of tangible accountability and transparency are
observed. To address these identified problems, the regional state should establish an effective
reciprocal communication means with the people. This enhances the internal security
management to be more effective and to create accountable public officials and participatory
citizens. In cooperation with Wereda and zones, the region should create apposite milieu for the
augmentation of proper implementation in local operations. Further, the region in collaboration
with the federal governments need to give due emphasis to build trained security personnel,
undertake remedial measures, uphold public concerns and offer swift responses and work
harmoniously with the people in the study region.