THE ROLE OF CUSTOMARY INSTITUTIONS IN MANAGING RESOURCE BASED DISPUTES AMONG SOMALI PASTORALISTS: THE CASE OF HARSHIN DISTRICT, SOMALI REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

This study intended to find out the role of customary institution in managing resource based dispute among Somali pastoralists in Harshin district, Somali regional state, Ethiopia. the specific objectives were to assess the characterizes the features of resource based conflict in Harshin area , to assess the process and procedure of customary institutions available in the study area ,to assess the role of customary institutions in managing commonly used resource in the study area ,to assess the opportunity and challenges in managing resource based local conflict, to analyse the way in which formal and customary conflict resolutions interacting in managing resource based disputes among somali pastoralists, to assess the social, administrative, attitudinal and institutional factors that affect the effectiveness of the customary conflict resolution. To realize the intended objectives, the study was employed qualitative. The important data for the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected using instruments such as semi structured in-depth interview, observation, focus group discussion. While, the Secondary sources of data were conducted in different literatures such as books, journals, research, different unpublished organizational reports and documents. The data collected from both sources were organized thematically and analyzed qualitatively. The finding data explain that pastoralists don’t have any define territory or demarcation because of that pastoralists have suffer for long period of time with conflicts caused by conflict over land ownership’ right, water, conflict related to enclosure of pasture land and inheritance ,climate change influence, Murder, cattle rustling, theft, rape, banditry. The study demonstrates that diverse cases of civil and criminal matters among Somali pastoralists in the study area are resolved at customary institutions according to the long lived customary and religious laws. In the pre assessment made, women’s are always absent inheritance related including land right because a woman’s has no equal chance or equal division with men because of traditional Somali leadership processes depend on marginalization of female and empowering inclusively male domain is famous in the study area. Therefore, the study recommends to strength the level of understanding and awareness about Xeer institution to promote peaceful interaction between Somali pastoralists because of customary conflict resolution is one of the most and widely use in the study area.