Haile, Mitiku(DrTafere, Kelemework2022-04-272023-11-042022-04-272023-11-042000-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/31526This is a study on indigenous practices of conflict resolution among the Afar who share a common boundary with Tigrayan highlanders in northem Ethiopia. The latter constitute a separate ethnic group and have a slightly ditferent lII eans of subsistence. The aim of tile study was to examine tJle types of disputes in historical perspectives and understand local ways of handling conflict ranging from the intra-clan to the inter-ethllic level. The study revealed that the nature of conflict changed with changes in the ecological, socio economic and political arena . Ecological disasters causing huge livestock loss have forced the Afar to diversify their means or incolll e to cope up with the situation. This shih in tile Ineans of livelihood had its own effects as far as the traditional institutions and value systems are concerned. With a shift fi'om nomadic based economy to cultivation, the pastoral attitude of cOllllllullal ownership of land altered and conllicts taking the fOl1n of land disputes and water diversion rights became rampant. Urballisation alld wage labour lIIigration had also weakened kinship obligations and clan solidarity alllollg the !d~lr which bear th eir own influence on local disput e settl ement. On the highl and-Iowlalld dilll ension, past experiences reveal that raids triggered by resource competition, loss of stock and the quest for social honour had been COllllllon . Currently, however, sedentarisation reduced mobility of the Afar and minimised the extent of inter-etIlJlie cOllflict. In lct , this together witJI existing cross-cutting ties, economic and social relations with highlanders strengthened peace in the northern PClltS of the ethnic boundary. III sOllie cases, fights that OCClll' uetwecn illdividuals or slliall groups cspecially in thc southem territory ollcn quickly turn into inter-etlUlic conflict expressed in replisals. But dissolution of the traditional political systelll of the soutJlern highlanders has made it difficult for them to pursue their institutional violence against tJle Afar. Besides, the cUIl'ent Federa1 systelJl of govemment has generally enabled the Ajar to see themselves as a group giving little imp0l1ance to clan differences. Thjs along with the Afar people's increased involvement ill lIational affairs created power balallce between them aJld the Tigrayan highlanders leading to a reduction in tJle prevalence of raids. When conflicts occur at various levels, tlle AJar generally rely more 011 their own local dispute settlement forums than the government legal machinery. Within their OWII group, clan elders as well as kjnship and clomestic groups maintain peace through sanctiolls following mablo assemblies. Relations with the hi ghlanders are also regulated via a jointly established institution called (Jereb, which eJlforces order based on written customary laws. At present, govemlllent illstitutions also co-operate with local inter-ethnic mediation at diOerellt stages.enThesis