Traditional conflict resolution as a better option to. African conflicts, development and regional organisations in the postcold war international system the annual claude ake memorial lecture uppsala, sweden 30 january 2014 victor a. The most common conflict resolution approaches or mechanisms include peace negotiations, mediation andor facilitation, traditional or ineigenous methods, peace agreements and their implementations and. In the same way as the analysis of violent conflict has to overcome a statecentric perspective, so have the approaches to the control of violence and the nonviolent conduct of conflict. Once a conflict exists, there are many strategies used in resolving it which include competing, traditional conflict resolution strategies as spelt out by ajayi and buhari 2014 in their study of. Case study of the kanye kgotla piwane constance moumakwa masters thesis in philosophy of peace and conflict transformation faculty of humanities, social sciences and education university of tromso autumn 2010. Tensions between rwanda and its two neighbours, burundi and uganda, have escalated over the past two years. As member of the region, ethiopia experienced different kinds of conflicts. Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms among ambo woreda. This practice as a conflict resolution tool will be the focus of this paper and the following pages will examine the viability of traditional african dance as an alternative to more conventional conflict resolution methods as well as how the two approaches differ. Traditional african dispute resolution tadr mechanisms. Cultural processes of conflict resolution in ghana traditional conflict resolution is a structured political, judicial and arbitration mechanism. A comparative study of traditional conflict resolution methods in liberia and ghana christianradu chereji charles wratto king christianradu chereji, director, conflict studies center charles wratto king, associate researcher, conflict studies center conflict studies quarterly issue 5, october 20, pp.
A mechanism for traditional conflict resolution in modern botswana. Since the process is geared toward the future, opportunities are provided for remorse. Realistic conflict resolution in africa would do well to draw on the wisdom of proverbs whose probing capacity could untangle the underlying causes, patterns, trends and possible resolution strategies. Neither are they clashes between states, nor are they conventional. With african conflicts eluding efforts to be controlled, this work is guided by the question. The use of traditional communications in conflict management. View traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, ethnic conflicts, politics in the horn of africa research papers on academia. Major features of indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms. Overview this paper presents a summary of the findings of a participatory actionresearch case study into indigenous traditional legal systems in rattanakiri and mondulkiri provinces the case study. The role of traditional rulers in conflict prevention and. The research was conducted in kedida gamelo woreda and it was purposively selected. Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms among the kembata.
Up to now, traditional approaches to conflict transformation have not been adequately addressed by scholarly research and political practice. Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms and institutions. They also indicate that the parties involved must be given ample opportunities. Indigenous conflict resolution in africa by birgit brockutne university of oslo a draft presented to the weekend seminar on indigenous solutions to conflicts held at the university of oslo, institute for educational research 23 24 of february 2001. A case study of traditional indigenous legal systems and conflict resolution i.
It appears on the list of journals accredited by the south african department of education. It will also serve as a source of information and catalyst for further studies. Traditional mechanisms of resolving conflicts over land. Conflict management involves acquiring skills related to conflict resolution, selfawareness about conflict modes, conflict communication skills, and establishing a structure for management of conflict in organizational environment. The rayan customary conflict resolution mechanisms mainly focus on settling disputes and redressing the victims of. The commonly used type of mediation in african conflict is regional organizationled. In september 2009, mrg conflict prevention head chris chapman traveled to kampala, uganda, and nakuru, kenya to meet with cso representatives working on issues of conflict in the regions. Existence of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms such as negotiation, reconciliation, mediation and others is evidence that these concepts are not new in africa. A synthesis of customary and statutory system of conflict resolution may facilitate a better understanding that will lead to improved. Traditional leaders play a vital role in local and grassroots communities in relation to socioeconomic development and the administration of justice in the modern political system. Fig 1 is a model of how westerners often perceive conflict and its resolution. The role of regional and international organizations in.
Introduction long before africa was colonised, and way beyond the advent of slave trade, african societies had institutional mechanisms as well as cultural sources to uphold the values of peace, tolerance, solidarity and. Highlighting the traditional precolonial institutions and methods of conflict resolution in the kom community of cameroon. Endalcachew bayeh et al traditional conflict resolution as a better option to court proceeding. Monica matavire lecturer in citizenship and conflict transformation bindura university of science education zimbabwe abstract this article describes the zimbabwean traditional jurisprudence in relation to conflict resolution. Senator jeff merkley said he concluded that a matrix of conflict, corruption and climate chaos is driving one of the biggest periods of displacement in. In conclusion, having done this crosssection on traditional african dispute resolution tadr mechanisms, i am of the view that conflict resolution is a dynamic process.
The folk tale below is a classic example of the nature of conflict and its resolution. This time last year, the world was cautiously optimistic that at least some of africas deadly conflicts were on course for resolution. Methods in african traditional conflict resolution the methods of performing conflict resolution in the traditional african societies, though with variations across the ethnic groups, are. The major issue that the study examines is the role of igad in resolving the somali conflict. Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms have preexisting values and rules, forgiving one another. In rayarayuma there are almost the same customary laws and traditional practices though the people speak different languages. This article will address the issue of conflict, how it was dealt with in traditional african culture, the methods of communication both in traditional and modern uganda and the question of rights and responsibilities in promoting cross cultural amity. These projects are in collaboration with cecore and endorois welfare council ewc, holding training workshops on peace building and conflict resolution. After a trip to assess humanitarian crises in some of the worlds most troubled nations, u. So if africa has to put the falling apart together, her original values must be re. Nigeria, organised by the center for peace research and conflict resolution, national war college, abuja, september, 1998, p. This article examines the efficacy of indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in grappling with myriad of conflicts that have ravaged the continent of africa, and draws out lessons for the nigerian state. The first part of this working paper attempts to put together the traditional justice mechanisms of the communities that have been affected by the conflict and those that have not been affected by the conflict.
Ndebele traditional crisis resolution and phases follow more or less the same developments, conflict is precipitated by a conflict of interest, if one party to the conflict challenges and the other resists a conflict or crisis ensue. Settlement mechanism actual settlement of disputes shack shifta social sociocultural sodo teff theft tigray tigreans tigrigna tplf traditional disputes tribal tribes type of disputes usually values verdict warra wasis wereare wolfgang. The case of the organisation of african unity oau author. Revisiting conflict resolution the second, conceptual, section discusses on the basis of the three case studies a number of recurrent assumptions in the field of conflict resolution related specifically to i participation issues, ii the problem of the root causes, iii the question of timing, iv the neutrality of third parties, v the. African conflicts, development and regional organisations. After having claimed some two million lives, sudans twentyyear civil war appeared close to an end. Interrogating the zimbabwean traditional jurisprudence and. Principles of conflict resolution in traditional african societies in the precolonial days, there were many principles guiding conflict resolution in the traditional african societies. Sidama communities are found in sidama zone, southern nations, nationalities and peoples regional state snnprs. Among other things, traditional processes show that leaders and elders must be genuinely concerned about the welfare of the people. For instance, in 2004, the united nations economic commission for africa uneca organised a forum which discussed. There also exist various traditional institutions in the country that have their own customary methods of settling con. The research took place during march and april 2006.
Hybrid violent conflicts, hybrid political orders many of todays largescale violent conflicts in the global south cannot be perceived as conventional wars any longer. Methods of conflict resolution in african traditional. The major goal of this study was to assess the role of indigenous institutions in handling settling conflicts in the kembata people in kembatatembaro zone in the southern nations, nationalities and peoples regional state snnprs. Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms urge parties to abandon their old feuds and live amicably in tolerance mwagira, 1999. The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, it promotes consensusbuilding, social. This text identifies contributions of traditional mechanisms for conflict management in africa and elsewhere. It discusses ways to overcome the difference between customary and statutory approaches in conflict resolution.
Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in africa. Nabudere 1997 mentions that the recent collapse of the somali nationstate and the reversion to the post traditional method of social and political organisation in northern somaliland have shown how dynamic some of the old systems are. Ethiopia was engaged in a number of armed conflicts inside and out of. Traditional mechanisms of conflict resolution in ethiopia. Senator jeff merkley said he concluded that a matrix of conflict, corruption and climate chaos is driving one of the biggest periods of displacement in modern history. Eritrea conflict, the genocide in rwanda the conflict in sudan just to name a few.
The principles underlying the resolution of conflict in folk tales can be applied for contemporary peacebuilding practices. Indigenous systems of conflict resolution in oromia, ethiopia. Indigenous conflict resolution institutions in ethiopia ethiopia is believed to be the museum of peoples with more than 80 ethnic groups constituting and forming one nation state. Although its powers have diminished over recent decades, this institution is well respected by the oromo society at large in. This is not only because zimbabwe is characterised by many conflicts, but much more so due to the realization that in most cases the conflicts have negative impacts the a nations socioeconomic and political development. Conflict resolution and peace buildind in africa as a. Conflict resolution and peace buildind in africa as a process. The role of traditional rulers in conflict prevention and mediation in nigeria. This paper presents types of conflict describe the benefits and detriments.
Marvin nii ankrah author year 20 pages 82 catalog number v231798 file size 800 kb language english tags the organisation of african unity oau economic community of west african states ecowas conflict resolution model multisectoral approach sub. Nonetheless, the relevance of traditional methods and institutions of conflict resolution is now slowly gaining an audience among policy makers and practitioners of conflict resolution. Pdf conflict management in traditional african society. Nov 15, 2014 in conclusion, having done this crosssection on traditional african dispute resolution tadr mechanisms, i am of the view that conflict resolution is a dynamic process. An examination of the role of shona folktales in promoting. Traditional mechanisms of conflict resolution in ethiopia giday degefu koraro ethiopian international institute for peace and development, 2000 conflict management 204 pages. Therefore, there is a gap on the traditional mechanisms for resolving conflict particularly land conflict in tanzania. In november 2019, kagame openly threatened to retaliate against his neighbours after an october 2019 raid in rwanda by a north kivubased militia that he alleges is supported by burundi and uganda. There is, therefore, a need to promptly revitalize the african traditional conflict resolution institutions so that conflicts for a longterm be resolved. The major goal of this study was to assess the role of indigenous institutions in handling settling conflicts in the sidama society. Adetula, phd the international peace and security system requires a network of actors with a broad set of capacities, so that. In resolving these conflicts, mediation has been used as a tool for conflict resolution.
This is because the understanding of the type of causes and actors will be a very useful tool for that purpose. African conflict resolution united states institute of peace. An analysis of mediation as a tool in conflict resolution. The role of sidama indigenous institutions in conflict. It concludes that traditional conflict resolution techniques such as mediation, adjudication, reconciliation, and negotiation as well ascross examination which were employed by africans in the past, offer great prospects for peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationships in post conflict periods than the modern method of litigation. The research was conducted in dalle woreda, sidama zone and it was purposively selected. The features of indigenous conflict resolution in african societies included performance stance. Traditional approaches to conflict transformation potentials and limits volker boege 1. The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, it promotes consensusbuilding, social bridge. This practice as a conflict resolution tool will be the focus of this paper and the following pages will examine the viability of traditional african dance as an alternative to more conventional conflict resolution methods as well as how the two approaches differ on a very basic, cultural level. Traditional methods of conflict resolution intertribal conflicts were resolved through negotiations and compromises so that peaceful relations could be restored.
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