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Features and Causes of Oromo and Somali Conflicts: The Case of Miesso District of Oromia and Mullu District of Somali Regional States, Ethiopia

Received: 5 September 2021    Accepted: 24 September 2021    Published: 29 September 2021
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Abstract

This article aimed to investigate features and causes of the conflicts between Oromo and Somali Pastoral and agro-pastoral (PAP) groups in the study area. Hence, 160 PAP households were randomly selected to facilitate primary data collection by using household survey. Qualitative data were collected by using key informant interviewees (KIIs) and Focal group discussions (FGDs). Field observation, informal discussion and review of secondary data were also supported data collection process of the study. Descriptive research design; descriptive and inferential statistics were employed. The proportion of sample households composed of 49% Oromo and 51% Somali groups. The result of findings showed recurrent drought, rangeland degradation, conflicting land use between the contending groups, hostile relationships, enmity stereotype and incitement, instability due to increasing frequency and magnitude of violent conflicts, firearms and weapons proliferation and weak capacity of customary institutions were ranked as the main features of conflicts in the study area. High frequency of prevalence violent conflicts was seen in the past two decades (2000-2020) with increasing trends of conflicts, as 83% of households responded. The Scarcity of range resources, lack of property rights to communal grazing resource, weak capacity of customary institutions and government system to ensure rule of law were found the main causes that often prompt contending groups towards violent conflicts, significant differences, at p<0.01, 0.05 and 0.1, between the two groups. In the light of findings this paper concludes that the two PAP groups are significantly different in all factors that prompt contending groups to embark on conflicts due to their differences in socio-economic, cultural, political and resource-related factors.

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 9, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.hss.20210905.15
Page(s) 165-180
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Causes, Conflict, Ethnic Group, Oromo and Somali

References
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    Abdurahman Ousman Dansa, Abadir Youya Musa. (2021). Features and Causes of Oromo and Somali Conflicts: The Case of Miesso District of Oromia and Mullu District of Somali Regional States, Ethiopia. Humanities and Social Sciences, 9(5), 165-180. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210905.15

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    Abdurahman Ousman Dansa; Abadir Youya Musa. Features and Causes of Oromo and Somali Conflicts: The Case of Miesso District of Oromia and Mullu District of Somali Regional States, Ethiopia. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2021, 9(5), 165-180. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20210905.15

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    AMA Style

    Abdurahman Ousman Dansa, Abadir Youya Musa. Features and Causes of Oromo and Somali Conflicts: The Case of Miesso District of Oromia and Mullu District of Somali Regional States, Ethiopia. Humanit Soc Sci. 2021;9(5):165-180. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20210905.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hss.20210905.15,
      author = {Abdurahman Ousman Dansa and Abadir Youya Musa},
      title = {Features and Causes of Oromo and Somali Conflicts: The Case of Miesso District of Oromia and Mullu District of Somali Regional States, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
      volume = {9},
      number = {5},
      pages = {165-180},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20210905.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210905.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20210905.15},
      abstract = {This article aimed to investigate features and causes of the conflicts between Oromo and Somali Pastoral and agro-pastoral (PAP) groups in the study area. Hence, 160 PAP households were randomly selected to facilitate primary data collection by using household survey. Qualitative data were collected by using key informant interviewees (KIIs) and Focal group discussions (FGDs). Field observation, informal discussion and review of secondary data were also supported data collection process of the study. Descriptive research design; descriptive and inferential statistics were employed. The proportion of sample households composed of 49% Oromo and 51% Somali groups. The result of findings showed recurrent drought, rangeland degradation, conflicting land use between the contending groups, hostile relationships, enmity stereotype and incitement, instability due to increasing frequency and magnitude of violent conflicts, firearms and weapons proliferation and weak capacity of customary institutions were ranked as the main features of conflicts in the study area. High frequency of prevalence violent conflicts was seen in the past two decades (2000-2020) with increasing trends of conflicts, as 83% of households responded. The Scarcity of range resources, lack of property rights to communal grazing resource, weak capacity of customary institutions and government system to ensure rule of law were found the main causes that often prompt contending groups towards violent conflicts, significant differences, at p<0.01, 0.05 and 0.1, between the two groups. In the light of findings this paper concludes that the two PAP groups are significantly different in all factors that prompt contending groups to embark on conflicts due to their differences in socio-economic, cultural, political and resource-related factors.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Features and Causes of Oromo and Somali Conflicts: The Case of Miesso District of Oromia and Mullu District of Somali Regional States, Ethiopia
    AU  - Abdurahman Ousman Dansa
    AU  - Abadir Youya Musa
    Y1  - 2021/09/29
    PY  - 2021
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    T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
    JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
    JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
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    EP  - 180
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8184
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210905.15
    AB  - This article aimed to investigate features and causes of the conflicts between Oromo and Somali Pastoral and agro-pastoral (PAP) groups in the study area. Hence, 160 PAP households were randomly selected to facilitate primary data collection by using household survey. Qualitative data were collected by using key informant interviewees (KIIs) and Focal group discussions (FGDs). Field observation, informal discussion and review of secondary data were also supported data collection process of the study. Descriptive research design; descriptive and inferential statistics were employed. The proportion of sample households composed of 49% Oromo and 51% Somali groups. The result of findings showed recurrent drought, rangeland degradation, conflicting land use between the contending groups, hostile relationships, enmity stereotype and incitement, instability due to increasing frequency and magnitude of violent conflicts, firearms and weapons proliferation and weak capacity of customary institutions were ranked as the main features of conflicts in the study area. High frequency of prevalence violent conflicts was seen in the past two decades (2000-2020) with increasing trends of conflicts, as 83% of households responded. The Scarcity of range resources, lack of property rights to communal grazing resource, weak capacity of customary institutions and government system to ensure rule of law were found the main causes that often prompt contending groups towards violent conflicts, significant differences, at p<0.01, 0.05 and 0.1, between the two groups. In the light of findings this paper concludes that the two PAP groups are significantly different in all factors that prompt contending groups to embark on conflicts due to their differences in socio-economic, cultural, political and resource-related factors.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • College of Social Science and Humanities, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Program, West Hararghe High Court, Ethiopia

  • College of Social Science and Humanities, Peace and Development Studies Program, Haramaya University, Haramaya, East Ethiopia

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