Prepared By: Wondwosen Lukas Gonto

Tatek Legesse Bulcha

Kim Majiok Logn
Ismail Abdisalan Hashi
Kassahun Mesele Worku

Submitted To: Yohannes (PhD)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................1

2. The Guji-Gedeo Ethnic Conflict ......................................................................................2

2.1. Overview of the Conflict ............................................................................................. 2

2.2. The Changing Dynamics of Guji-Gedeo Relationships .............................................. 3

2.2.1. Enmity Relationships ........................................................................................... 3

2.2.2. Key actors and stakeholders in Guji Oromo and Gedeo conflict ............................ 3

2.2.3. Guji-Gedeo Relations: Recent Trends and Future Prospects ............................... 3

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................4

Reference.....................................................................................................................................5

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 1. Introduction

Conflict is described as the incompatibility of two or more parties in a relationship's aims or

ideals, paired with attempts to dominate each other and antagonistic attitudes toward each other.
Conflict has the capacity for either significant devastation or significant innovation and societal
progress. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of conflict is critical so that we may
optimize productive results while minimizing harmful ones (Fisher, 2000).

The nature of conflict in Africa shifted away from interstate wars fought by professional armies
(which were still uncommon during the Cold War) and civil wars fought to control the state or
subdue recessionary movements, and toward small, intra-state wars fought by factionalized
insurgencies and other forms of political violence, such as election violence, or conflict over
access to livelihood resources such as land and water. The nature of conflict in Africa shifted
from interstate wars fought by professional armies to small, intra-state wars. Conflict between
factionalized insurgencies and other forms of political violence can all lead to conflict.
Distinguishing between fighters and civilians may be difficult in such battles (Caparini, 2016).

Ethiopia is home to several ethno-linguistic communities with different histories, languages,

and cultures. Ethiopia was home to at least 2.9 million IDPs and has experienced the newest
displacement associated with conflict and violence across the globe in the first half of 2018 (1.4
million new displaced people). The country has more than 80 ethnic groups. In Ethiopia over 1
million displaced people since 13 April (United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs, 2018). The capacity of hosting communities to absorb new IDPs
(internally displaced people) is strained. This term paper will briefly describe some common
sources of conflict, the levels of social interaction at which conflict occurs, the general strategies
of approaching conflict resolution and how to bring sustainable peace and solidarity among
Gedeo zone (SNNP region) and West Guji zone (Oromia region).

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 2. The Guji-Gedeo Ethnic Conflict
2.1. Overview of the Conflict

The Guji and Gedeo peoples are neighboring communities inhabiting the southern part of
Ethiopia. Their relationship ranges from sharing adjacent geographical landscape, economic
practices, some cultural practices and intermarriage to the extent of myth of 'common ancestry'.
Except for a few physical features such as facial structure, size and structure of nose and hair
type, objective markers of distinctiveness are in most cases not noticeable (Berisso, 1994).
Consequently, during those periods both ethnic groups, like any other ethnic community in the
province, were subjected to heavily centralized administration from the political center. In
effect, the relations of both ethnic communities with central authorities were thus more or less
similar.

Despite such geographical proximities and cultural similarities, their recent violent conflict has
left enduring suspicion and some sorts of tension between the two groups. The fundamental
cause of the 1995 Guji-Gedeo conflict was neither resolved nor relinquished but was rather
postponed to erupt whenever the political environment would be ripened (Jemma, 2002).

In 1998, the Guji and Gedeo regions held conferences to discuss revival of referendum on
50%+1 formula. The Guji strongly protested against the idea and emphasized that the
referendum ended in 1995 with causalities for which they blamed the government. In contrast,
the Gedeos insisted on viability of the referendum, which they described as a matter of
government policy not to be subjected to objection (Jemma, 2002).

A bloody war was fought for a few days in 1998 that claimed the lives of hundreds or thousands
of people and significant destruction of properties. One wonders if this conflict is then fairly
labelled as 'inter-ethnic conflict' and its prime cause as resource competition. Irreconcilable
interests of the two protagonists – the government and the Guji people – darkened the
probability for peace. The ordinary Gedeo were sandwiched between the two and became
victims of the event (Debelo, 2007).

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 2.2. The Changing Dynamics of Guji-Gedeo Relationships

The interactions between Gedeo and Guji communities have observed both forms of
cooperation and conflict. While there had been a long record of friendly interaction, there have
also emerged violent conflicts in the post1991 period. What follows is a discussion of each of
these interactions that exist between these communities.

2.2.1. Enmity Relationships

Like any neighboring communities, they compete for land resources and have traditionally
developed instruments of conflict management when conflicts happen between them over these
resources. Traditional patterns of conflict and conflict management between the two peoples
were, however, changed as a result of the establishment of ethno-linguistic based regional states
(Kinfemichael, 2014). Tensions between the two communities over border issues led to violent
conflicts, which led to the death of many people, displacement of thousands of people and
destruction of property (ibid.)

2.2.2. Key actors and stakeholders in Guji Oromo and Gedeo conflict

Key actors are: - the elite, Qeero, and people, activist, the federal government body, OLF and
Oromia Regional State are the main key actors. The elites in Guji Oromo mobilizing the people
by showing their advantages that they are in conflict with Gedeo people. In conflict people are
the central actors that involved achieving their needs. Actors and stake holders from Gedeo side
that involved in conflict are: - elite, people, activist, ethnic leaders, government body…etc. All
actors and stake holders are involved in conflicts in order to keep their demand and to be the
owners the land in Guji Oromo (Debelo, 2007).

2.2.3. Guji-Gedeo Relations: Recent Trends and Future Prospects

Pertinent to the post-conflict period, there are two major views these communities. On the one
hand, a good number of the Guji Oromo people claim that normality has returned and inter-
marriages have revived along with other social interactions between the two communities
though there are some signs of disaffection among the Guji people, on the other hand, many of
the Gedeo people reject the above assertions. They contend, instead, that there is no ‘genuine’

3
conflict resolution. The revival of some sort of social interactions should not lead us to the
conclusion that there are ‘genuine peace’ and ‘mutual trust’ between the two communities. It is
rather an apparent peace and not a reliable one. To substantiate this assertion, Gedeo
emphasized ‘the Guji still want to grab land and do not want us in their territories, which may
presumably affect the recent peaceful coexistence’ (Debelo, 2007).

The prospect for peace and stability in some contested areas is uncertain in many ways in the
aftermath of the conflicts, which still influence the interactions of the two ethnic groups. The
two neighboring ethnic groups in the post-conflict periods developed a sense of suspicion,
skepticism and at least hidden enmity. It appears that the two communities are thus still at
loggerheads since the problem of defining border has not yet been settled as it should be.

Conclusion

Ethiopia is home to a number of ethno-linguistic communities, each with its own history,
language, and culture. Conflict can arise from factionalized insurgencies as well as other types
of political violence. Ethiopia has at least 2.9 million IDPs and endured the most recent
relocation due to war and violence in the first half of 2018. (1.4 million new displaced people).
The Guji and Gedeo areas had extensively centralized administered from the political center
throughout the colonial era and post-independence period. Both ethnic groupings had
comparable interactions with central authority.

They compete for land resources, just like any other nearby community, and have historically
evolved conflict resolution tools when disputes arise over these resources. Tensions between
the two communities over border concerns erupted into violent clashes, resulting in the deaths
of many people, the relocation of others, and the damage of property (ibid.). Many Guji Oromo
people report that normalcy has restored and that inter-marriages and other social connections
have resumed. Many Gedeo people, on the other side, deny the aforementioned findings,
claiming that no "true" conflict resolution occurred between the ethnic groups.

4
Reference

Berisso, T. (1994). Warfare among Guji-Oromo of Southern Ethiopia. The 11th International
Conference of Ethiopian Studies Vol. II.

Caparini, M. (2016). Challenges to Contemporary Peace Support Operations in Africa. Journal

of Military and Strategic Studies, 17(2), 49. file:///C:/Users/T.J/Downloads/666-2176-1-
PB.pdf

Debelo, A. R. (2007). Ethnicity and Inter-ethnic Relations: the “Ethiopian Experiment” and
the case of the Guji and Gedeo [University of Tromsø]. https://hdl.handle.net/10037/990

Fisher, R. (2000). Sources of Conflict and Methods of Conflict Resolution. International Peace
and Conflict Resolution School of International Service The American University, 1–6.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c79d/9b7849528d3fa2170d33b6382f7da2b77a11.pdf%0
Ahttp://www.ulstergaa.ie/wp-content/uploads/coaching/team-management-2012/unit-
3/sources-of-conflict-and-methods-of-resolution.pdf [accessed: June 5, 2012]

Jemma, H. (2002). Competition over Resource and Ethnic Conflict in Federal Ethiopia: The
Case of Recent Guji-Gedeo Conflict.

Kinfemichael, G. (2014). The Quest for Resolution of Guji-Gedeo Conflicts in Southern

Ethiopia: A Review of Mechanisms Employed, Actors and Their Effectiveness. Ethiopian
Journal of the Social Sciences and Humanities, 10(1), 59–100.
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ejossah/article/view/109614

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (2018). Ethiopia: Gedeo-
West Guji Displacement Crisis (Issue August).
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/ethiopia/document/ethiopia-west-
guji-–-gedeo-conflict-displacement-flash-update-
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TY3MTM5NzMyMi4xLjEuMTY3MTM5NzQ4MS41NS4wLjA.