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AEGIS European Conference on African Studies
11 - 14 July 2007
African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Perceptions of Justice of some of the people living in the Ethiopian region of Gambella: their relevance to conflict transformation
| Panel |
49. The politics of healing and justice in post-conflict societies: Global discourses and local realities
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| Paper ID | 745 |
| Author(s) |
Sommer, Monika M
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| Paper |
No paper submitted
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| Abstract | The Regional State of Gambella in Ethiopia is undergoing conflictual developments. Some of these conflicts are homemade, but others can be seen as repercussions from conflicts within Ethiopia or within Sudan. During the 1980s the Region hosted large scale resettlements for people from the highlands of Ethiopia. It did the same for the victims of the civil war in Sudan. At the time the town of Gambella even hosted the HQs of the SPLA. With the installation of formal democracy and a form of ethnic federalism in Ethiopia since 1991, ethnic tensions grew further. The paper analyses specific local capacities in dealing with conflict, using the folklore of some of the main ethnic groups as an entry-point.
The research is based on the hypotheses that conflicts will be transformed only when a basic sense of justice will be met. Each group has specific perceptions about justice and peace which are deeply rooted in culture and tradition. These concepts underlie the traditional processes of conflict management, and may even have been transformed in the process of confrontation with 'modern', state-institutions of governance and justice. Any attempt of peacebuilding and reconciliation of protracted conflict that fails to take these traditionally grown perceptions into account seems to be destined to fail. Strategies of conflict transformation can become successful though, when people involved are met where they stand; when they become actors in a process of dialogue and interaction, eventually using their own potential for growth.
The author, in her previous studies, had analysed different forms of traditional approaches to conflict prevention, resolution and mediation. These processes of re-establishing justice after violations of rights, life and livelihoods proved to be deeply rooted in the respective believe systems of the people. The paper therefore portraits some of the dominant strategies to conflict management still alive in Gambella, and relates them to the underlying folklore and narrative of the respective groups residing in Gambella.
The paper is based on the findings of field research conducted during several field visits between June 2005 and Mai 2007. The research includes the narratives of the different ethic groups: the indigenous groups of Anywaa and Nuer are as much represented as the main groups of 'highlanders' living in Gambella, such as Kambatta, Oromos, Amhara and Tigray, who form the second large group of the region. The presentation though will focus of one specific group.
The paper argues that local communities in their dilemma to cope with what is often perceived as modernity need to mobilise their traditions as reservoir that can be used for constructive processes. By validating local social capital and peace dynamics, these communities may become even fitter 'and less vulnerable' when confronted with globalisation in its various forms. |
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