HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

CONFLICT AND COPNFLICT RESOLUTION AMONG THE

OROMO OF DÕBBÂ DISTRICT WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS

ON GUMÃ TO 2010.

MA Thesis

Sira

ta Biru

November, 2014

Haramaya, Ethiopia

HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

CONFLICT AND COPNFLICT RESOLUTION AMONG THE

OROMO OF DÕBBÂ DISTRICT WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS

ON GUMÃ TO 2010.

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE

STUDIES OF HARAMÂYÃ UNIVERSITY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF ARTS IN HISTORY AND

HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

By

Sirata

Biru

ADVISOR: Gutema Imana (PhD)

November, 2014

Haramaya,

Ethiopia

STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCHER

By my signature below, I declare and affirm that this

thesis is my own work. I have followed all ethical

principles of scholarship in, data collection, data

analysis and completion of this thesis. All scholarly

resources used in the thesis have given recognition

through citation. I affirm that I have cited and referred

all sources used in this document. Every serious effort

has been made to avoid any plagarism in the preparation

of this thesis.

This thesis is submitted in partial fulfiiment of the

requirements for MA degree in history from the school of

Graduate studies at Haramaya University. The thesis is

deposited in the Hramaya University Library and is made

available to borrowers under the rules of the Library. I

solemnly declare that this thesis has not been submitted

to any other inistitution any where for any academic

degree, diploma or certificate.

Brief quotations from this thesis may be used without

special permission provided that accurate and complete

acknowladgement is made. Requests for permission for

extended quotations from, or reproduction of this thesis

in whole or in part may be granted by the head of

Department of History and Heritage management or Dean of

the School of Graduate Studies when in his or her

judgement the proposed use of the material is in the

interest of scholarship. In all other inistances,

however, permission must be obtained from the outhor of

the thesis.

Name: Sirata Biru

Signature ----------------

Date: November, 2014Departement: History and Heritage Management

i

Biographical

Sketch of the Researcher

The researcher, Sirata Biru, was born in 1975, from his

father Obbo Birru Amanta and his mother Adde Dhibbe

Qajela, in East Wallaggã zone, Jimmã Arjõ district,

Chaffē Arjõ rural kebele. After he reached the school

age, he attended his primary school (1-6) in Chaffē Arjõ

from 1981-1987, his junior (7-8) and senior (9-12)

secondary schools in Mokonnon Damissaw No 1 and 2 from

1988-1993 in Arjõ town.

After completing his high school education, he attended

the one year professional training in teaching for

primary school Teachers in Asallã teachers Training

Institute in 1994/1995. After completing the training,

he was employed as a primary school teacher in Dõbbã

district, in west Harargē administrative zone of Oromia

regional state, where he served as a teacher, school

director, school supervisor and educational expert for 20

years.

He received his diploma in History in 2004 from Adama

Teachers’ College, and graduated with a BA degree in

History and Heritage management from Hramaya University

in 2008. He joined the school of Graduate studies of

Haramaya Univesity in 2010 to study hitory and heritage

management for his MA degree.

ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to express my

heartfelt gratitude to my thesis advisor Dr Gutema Imana

for his guidance, support and constructive remarks from

the preparation of my thesis proposal to the completion

of the thesis.

Secondly, I would like to thank all the

authors whose writings helped me in reviewing the related

literature during the preparation of my proposal and

thesis.

Thirdly, I would like to thank Dõbbã District

Office of Culture and Tourism, Office of Agriculture and

Rural Development, Police Station, Office of Females and

Children Affairs, Administration Office, Office of

Municipality, Office of Internal Revenue and office of

Securty issues for they provided me with important

information for my study.

Fourthly, I would like to thank Dõbbã Office of

Education for allowing me to get computer service and for

giving me moral support which were crucially important.

Fifthly, I would like to express my genuine

thanks to my informants and other individuals who

provided me with key historical and cultural information.

Sixthly, I would like to thank the individuals

like Ato Abrahim Mahammad, Abdalla Ali, Kaffalagn

Getachaw, Aman Morki, Nasir Ibiro, Ayyub Ahimad, Olani

Tasamma, Ashabbir Fallaqa, Addisu Adana, Tafari Shimallis

and Mulugeta Kibru for they assisted me in the course of

data collection.

Finally, my thanks go to my sister, Mrs Dasse

Biru, and my brother, Mr Yada Biru for their consistent

encouragement which gave me the morale to complete my

study in time.

iii

Acronyms and

Abbreviation

DTM Dõbbã Town Municipality

CSA Central Statistical Authority

DDAO Dõbbã District Administration Office

DDOARD Dõbbã District Office of Agriculture and

Rural Dvelopment

DDOSI Dõbbã District Office of Security

Issues

DDOCT Dõbbã District Office of Culture and

Tourism

DDOE Dõb Dõbbãbã District Office of

Education

DDOWA Dõbbã District Office of Women and

Children Affairs

DDPS Dõbbã District Police Station

i v

THE TRANSLITERATION SYSTEM USED

Amharic Oromo

Tranisliteration

አአ Aadaa Âdã

አአአ Abaaruu Abãrŭ

አአ አአ Abbaa warraa Abbã warrã

አአአ Adaamii Adãmî

አአአ Afooshaa Afõshã

አአአአ አአ Afran Qalloo Afran Qallõ

አአአ Ajjeese Ajjēse

አአአአ Angafa Angafa

አአአ Barcaa Barchã

አአአ Bishaan Bishãn

አአ Boojjii Bõjjî

አአአ Bulchaa Bulchã

አአ Buula Bŭla

አአ Buusaa Bŭsã

አአ Butii Butî

አአአ Cabsaa Chabsã

አአ Cubbuu Chubbŭ

አአ Cuubee Chŭbȇ

አአ Dhaala Dhãla

v

አአአ Dhaddacha Dhaddacha

አአ Dhadhaa Dhadhã

አአአ Dhoksuu Dhoksŭ

አአ Diyaa Diyã

አአ Dhugaa Dhugã

አአአ Duwaa’ii Duwã’î

አአአ Eebbisuu Êbbisû

አአ Eela Êla

አአ Fafa Fafa

አአ Fannoo Fannõ

አአ Garaa Garã

አአአ Garaada Garãda

አአአ Gorboo Gorbõ

አአ Gosa Gosa

አአ Gowwaa Gowwã

አአአ Gudeeddaa Gudēddã

አአ Guuza Gŭza

አአአ Haablee Hãblē

አአአአ Habalamu Habalamŭ

አአአ Haraaraa Harãrã

አአ Heera Hēra

አአአአ Ijabanaa Ijabanã

አአአ Ijoollee Ijõllē

vi

አአአአ Imi Imimmaan mmãn

አአአአ Imimmattii Imimmattî

አአአ Irbuu Irbŭ

አአ Kadhaa Kadhã

አአአ Kakachuu Kakachŭ

አአ Kuurii Kŭrî

አአ Lola Lola

አአአ Malaaqa Malãqa

አአአ Mancaa Manchã

አአአአ Maanguddoo Mãnguddõ

አአአአአ Maangudduummaa Mãnguddummã

አአአአ Marriinkaa Marrînkã

አአአአ Mirqaana Mirqãna

አአአአ Mirriiksaa Mirrîksã

አአአ Mootummaa Mõtummã

አአ Nama Nama

አአአ Obsa Obsa

አአአ Owwituu Owwitŭ

አአአአአ Oshongoree

Oshongorē

አአአአ Qondaalaa Qondãlã

አአ Qubbii Qubbî

አአ Rabbi Rabbi

አአአ Sarbaa Sarbã

vii

አአ Shaffee Shaffē

አአአአ Sayilan Sayilan

አአአአ Walii-ooluu Walî-õlŭ

አአአ አአ Walitti-bu’uu

Walitti-bu’ŭ

አአአ Xumuroo Xumurõ

አአ Yaa’ii Yã’î

አአ አአ Yaa’ii-beeraa Yã’î-bērã

አአ አአ Yaa’ii dhiiraa Yã’î dhîrã

አአ Zakkaa Zakkã

viii

GLOSSARY

Âdã Culture

Abãrŭ Cursing

Abbã warrã Husband

Adãmî Cactus

Afõshã A traditional welfareassociation

Afran Qallõ The four sons of Qallõ

Ajjȇse Murdered

Angafa Elder

Barchã Chat chewed in theafternoon

Bishãn Water

Bõjjî Salty Mud

Bulchã Satlite camp in thepastoralists areas

Bŭla A kind of guma paid inSheep

Bŭsã Stew

Butî Abduction

Chabsã A kind of marriage proposalwhere by the male parents

suddenly request thefemale parents

Chubbŭ Sin

Chŭbȇ Sharpened Knive used fordeffence

Dhãla Inheritance

Dhaddacha Court

ix

Dhadhã Butter

Dhoksŭ Hiding

Dhugã Truth

Diyã A guma paid for thecompensation of

physical damage

Dhugã Dhoksŭ Hiding the truth

Dhugãn kan rabbîti Truth belongs to God

Duwãyî Prayer

Êbbisŭ Blessings

Êla Well

Fafa Impairment

Fannõ Suspended

Garã Stomach

Garãda Traditioal rulers atgrass root level

Gorbõ An instrument used bythe herdrs milk their animals

Gosa Clan

Gowwã Foolish

Gudȇddã Sexual offence

Gŭza Work party which isnot reciprocal in labor

Hãblȇ Knive

Hãdha warrã Wife

Habalamŭ Being deposed fromauthority

Harãrã Jimã Psychological andphysical cnoditions for the missing of

Chãt

x

Hȇra Traditional Law

Hȇra Oromõ Oromo Traditional law

Hȇra Mõtummã Government law

Ijabanã Chãt chewed in the morning

Ijõllȇ Children

Imimmãn Tear

Imimmattî A guma given to dry uptear from the victim’s relatives

Irbŭ An oath of innocenceby the Harargê Oromõ

Irbŭn siqaba Irbu might hold you

Kadhã A marriage proposalmade by yhe

male’sParents to the females Parents

Kakachŭ To take an oath

Kŭrî Pond

Kŭrî bishãnî Water pond

Labbi kafan A piece of cloth used tocover the carcasse of

dead person

Lola Fight

Malãqa Traditional rulers atthe village level.

Manchã Forest sickle

Mãnguddõ Elder

Mãnguddummã Eldernesss

Marrînkã Clothes and furniturebought by the males for

the females toform marriage

xi

Mirqãna Stimulation

Mirrîksã Taditional song forguma purpose

Mõtummã Government

Nama A person

Nama kȇnya ajjȇse Killed our person

Obsa Toleration

Owwitŭ Spring hot water

Oshongorȇ Akind of lentil crops

Qaama dhiqã Washing the body

Qondãlã Leaders at the sub-clanlevel

Qubbî Tombs of muslim holymen

Rabbi God

Sangãbãlã An ox for death ritual

Sarbã Part of above theknee

Shaffȇ A guma paid in goat

Sayilan Clan soldiers

Walîõlŭ Seving one another inturn by turn

Walitti-bu’ŭ Enter into conflict

Xumurõ Traditional shoes madefrom cattle’s skin

Yã’î Council

Yã’îbȇrã Females’ council

Yã’îdhîrã Men’s council

Zakkã Charity to the poor

xii

ABSTRACT

This study is about the conflict and conflict resolution among the oromo of

Dobbã distrect with special emphasis on guma to 2010 .The study attempted

to explore the two major conflicts that the Oromo of the area expreienced.

These were the conflict between the Oromo and the Somali herders

neighboring the district and the conflict among the Oromo themselves. The

study also explored the major causes of the conflicts and the traditional

mechanisms of conflict resolution developed by the Oromo people within

the context of change and continuitiy. Data were gathered by interviewing

the informants and reviewing the secondary sources. The data gathered

through different methods were analyized using the qualitative method of

data analysis. The result of this study indicated that the main cause for the

Conflict between the Oromo of Dõbbã District and the surrounding Somali

pastoralists was mainly related to the use of resources coupled with border

related problems that followed the formation of Oromia and Somali

regional states, cattle raids and sexual offences which were found to be

recurrent phenomena up to 2010 resulting in many causalities and resource

disructions. The main causes for the conflicts among the Oromo of Dõbbã

were related to landholding right and the use of resources coupled by other

factors like farm land, boundary, marital conflict, Chãt use and other social

factors. During the period of EPRDF (1991- 2010) the government established

the system of “Manguddõta Nagēnyã” (peace elders) in each local kebeles

and villages in the district to make an intervention during the occurrence of

conflict in their localities.However, the majority of the dispute cases were

treared by the taditional Oromo conflict resolution mechanisms as it was

free from the acts of partialities based on different factors, corruption and

any other additional expenses from the offender and the victim. In addition

to the above points, it took the past and future relationships of the

disputants in to considaration with acceptable decisions, which did not

allow the feeling of winner and loser relationships between the offender

and the victim

xv

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

Statement of the Researcher

i

Biographical Sketch of the Researcher

ii

AKNOWLEDGEMENTSiii

Acronyms and Abreviations

iv

THE TRANSLITERATION SYSTEM USED

v-viii

GLOSSARY

ix-xii

ABSTRACT

xv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

xvi-xxi

List of Tables

xxi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1

1.1. Background of the Study

1-2

1.2. Statement of the problem

2-3

1.3. Significance of the study

3

1.4. The scope of the study

3-4

1.5. Limitation of the study

4

1.6. Objectives of the study

4

1.6.1. General objective

4

1.6.2. Specific objectives

4

1.7. Research questions

5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

6

2.1. Conflict

6

2.2. Traditional Conflict Resolution Mechanisms

6-11

2.3. Traditional Mechanisms of Enforcing Decisions

11-14

2.4. Rituals in Peace Making

14-16

xvi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

/continued/

CHAPTERTHREE:RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

17

3.1. Research Design

17

3.2. Research Methods

17

3.2.1. Interview17

3.2.2. Primary Sources

18

3.2.3. Secondary Sources

18

3.3. Methods of Data Analysis

18

3.4. Organization of the Research

18

CHAPTER FOUR: BACKGROUND OF DÕBBÃ

DISTRICT

19

4.1, Location, Topography and Climate

19

4.2. Historical Background

19

4.2.1. The Foundation of Dõbbã District

19-22

4.3. The Oromo an Overview

23

4.4. The Harargȇ Oromo Abrief Account

23-24

4.4.1. Afran Qallõ

24-25

4.5. Gadã and the Harargȇ Oromo

26-27

4.6. Population and Settlement

27

4.6.1. Population

27-28

4.6.2. Settlement Patterns

29-30

4.7. Social structure

30

4.8. Economic Activites of Dõbbã Oromo

30

4.8.1. Agriculture

31

xvii

TABLE OF

CONTENTS /continued/

4.8.1.1. Crop Production (Farming)

31-32

4.8.1.2. Pastoralism

33-35

4.8.1.2.1. Patoral Resource and livestock

Control 35-36

4.8.1.2.2. Seasonal Migration

36-38

4.8 .2. Trade

38-39

4.9. Damînummã Institution

39-42

4.10. Females’ role in conflict Resolution

42-43

CHAPTER FIVE: THE MAJOR CONFLICTs AND ITS

CAUSES IN DÕBBÂ DISTRICT FROM 1887-2010

44

5.1. The Intra-Ethnic Conflict

44

5.1.1. Perception of Conflict by Dõbbã Oromo

44-45

5.1.2. Causes of the Intra-Ethnic conflict in

Dõbbã district

45

5.1.2.1. Conflict on Land

45-48

5.1.2.2. Conflict over the use of water

resources 48-

59

5.1.2.3.Inheritance Related Conflict

49-50

5.1.2.4. Chãt Addiction

51- 52

5.1.2.5. Marital conflict

52-55

5.1.2.6. Murder

55-56

5.1.2.7. Gudêddã (Forced sexual Intercourse)

56-57

5.1.3. Outcomes of Conflict

57

xviii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

/continued/

5.1. 4. The Early Outcomes of the Murders and the Attempts of the

Authorities to Regulate the Conditions

57-59

5.1.5. Irbŭ Oath of Innocence

59-61

5.2. The Inter -Ethnic Conflict

61-63

5.2.1. Causes of the conflict

63

5.2.1.1. Internal Factors

63

5.2.1.1.1. Conflict over water resources

63 -64

5.2.1.1.2. Conflict over the use of pasture

65

5.2.1.1.3. Cattle raiding

65-66

5.2.1.1.4. Border conflict

66-68

5.2.1.1.5. An illegal cross border settlement

68-70

5.2.1.1.6. Sexual offences

70-72

5.2.1.2. External Factors

72

5.2.1.2.1. The Ethio-Somali war of

72-74

5.2.2. The Pastoralists’ Negotiation and Decreasing

rate of Conflict

74-76

CHAPTER SIX: CONFLICT RESOLUTION MECHANISMS

EXPERIENCED BY THE OROMO OF DÕBBĂ DISTRICT

77

6.1. Perception of Wrong Among the Oromo of Dõbbã

77-78

6.2. Mãnguddummã Institution

78-81

6.3.The Term Gumã (Reparation)

81

xix

TABLE OF

CONTENTS /continued/

6.4. Gumã Procedures

82

6.4.1. Pleading

82-84

6.4.2. Wadãjã (Death Ritual )

84-85

6.4.3. Collection of Cattle

85-87

6.4.4. Gumã Ritual and Reconciliation

87-89

6.4.5. Distribution of Cattle

89-90

6.4.6. Qãma Dhiqã Ritual

90

6.4.7. Dãwwĭ (The visit ritual)

90-91

6.5. Gumã Within the Relatives

91-92

6.6. The Number of Gumã Compensation for life loss or

bodily Injuries

92-96

CHAPTER SEVEN: SUMMARY

97-100

BIBILIOGRAPHY

101-104

x x

List of Tables

Table 1. The Number of Gumã Compensation in Animals for Life

Indemnity And Physical Injuries Continued uto 2010

96

List of Figures

Figure 1. Hararge Oromo Genealogy

25

List of Figures

Map 1. West Hararge Administration

21

Map 2 Dobba District

22

xxii