Indigenous Conflict Resolution Institutions: a Study among the Gofa People of the Demba Gofa District, SNNPR
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The role of indigenous institutions in conflict resolution and peace building are hardly ever dealt
in literature on Gofa. The present study aims at to direct to this missing gap. It therefore,
documents the cause of conflict and the role of indigenous institutions in conflict resolutions
among the Gofa people. The study employed ethnographic methods.To meet the objectives
various methods like interview, participant observation, focus group discussion and case study
are involved. The major causes of conflicts among the Denba Gofa of the study area include
economic related, infringement of societal values, issues of religion and homicide. These typical
forms of conflicts are seen at family, neighborhoods, clan and dere level. Conflict is also
triggered in the study area mainly by denial of contracts, insult, theft, disrespecting of seniority,
issue of religion, property destruction, breach of contracts, land related conflicts, abduction,
incest and adultery.The findings of this study also reveal multiple entangled indigenous
institutions of conflict resolution: dere duleta, gade cima, and lappun cima and yaagano
institutions. The different types of conflicts ranging from simple insult to homicide get resolved
through the cooperative effect of these institutions.Data obtained from both my informants and
FGD discussants show that majority of peoplein the study area favor the indigenous conflict
resolution mechanisms than the formal one. People's attachment relies on the numerous qualities
they enjoy from the indigenous systems such as chance of not being corrupted, the ability to
identify crimes committed in secret, healing of the traumas, ease of access, flexibility, time and
energy saving and the exercise of familiar terminology, which are not present in the formal
institutions. In formal court the parties in conflict are always vulnerable to high fini al costs such
as court fees, transportation cost, fees for getting legal advices, food and bed rent costs. Even
though indigenous institutions have been facing challenges from modern religion and fomlal
law, the benefits indigenous institutions provides for the people favored their continuity.
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Keywords
Indigenous Conflict Resolution Institutions