Ethnic Identity and Conflict in Gambella Regional State: The Quest for Peacebuilding
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Date
2019-07
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Addis Ababa Unversity
Abstract
For many years, Gambella Peoples‟ National Regional State experienced violent ethnic
conflicts mainly between Nuer and Anywaa. This ethnic conflict presents critical implications
and challenges to the peaceful co-existence among the ethnic groups in the region, however,
despite the fact that, Gambella Regional State has been affected by protracted ethnic violent
conflicts yet, there has been no much studies conducted on peacepuilding. Hence, the study is
motivated by the desire to contribute to the peacebuilding efforts in Gambella Regional State.
Building on qualitative approach, data was collected from diverse ethnic groups through
purposive and snowball sampling techniques by employing key informants interview, focus
group discussions and observation. Besides, the data were analyzed through content analysis
as a method. Also, primary and secondary data that were tabulated and figured were
described and explained in order to convey meaningful outputs.The study found out that,
peacebuilding efforts were attempted in GPNRS by different institutions and civil society
organizations which encompasses; NGOs, the communities‟ elders, religious institution and
youths in the region. As a tool of conflict management, federalism was also used to manage
ethnic conflicts between the Nuer and Anywaa in form of granting self-rule via the formation
of „ethno-nationality zones‟. More importantly, the study has also identified that ethnic
conflict in Gambella had affected the current settlement pattern between the Nuer and
Anywaa. At present, causes and factors contributed to the ethnic conflict between Nuer and
Anywaa include elites‟ access to political power and urban land issue, the influx of the
refugee and memory of the past conflicts. Thus, the study recommends that, regional
government and town Municipality need to develop a clear policy on the urban land in order
to avoid conflict. Gambella Town Municipality in particular also need to work hard to
arrange mixed settlement among ethnic groups, particularly in Gambella town as it may
allow different ethnic groups to create social bonds and peaceful relations and to restrain
from tendency to mobilize for violence conflict.
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Keywords
Anywaa, Conflict, Ethnic Identity, Nuer, Peacebuilding, Political elites