LAND RELATED CONFLICTS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION WITH PARTICULAR EMPHSIS ON THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY ELDERS: THE CASE OF ODAA BULTUM DISTRICT, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

Conflict over land resource is one of the serious social problems among the agrarian communities of Ethiopia. In order to handle bad consequences of land related conflicts the rural society relies on different mechanisms of conflict resolution. One method of conflict resolution that plays significant role among the rural society is the customary mechanism of conflict resolution. Taking the customary mechanisms of conflict resolution as one of the most important tools that maintain peace and order in the rural society, this research has been under taken in West Hararghe Zone,Odaa Bultum Districts, with the objective of studying the role of community elders in resolving land related conflicts. Methodologically, data were collected from both primary and secondary sources through purposive (non-probability) sampling technique. Overall, this study pursued an interpretive qualitative field work approach and interview, focus group discussion and observation methods of data collection were used. The result of the study revealed that the elders of the community plays significant roles in resolving land related conflicts through customary mechanism of conflict resolution practices locally called „Diyaa‟ and „shaffee. The study especially focuses onthe „diyaa‟ and „shaffee practice of conflict resolution through community elders are significant not only in conflict resolution but also in averting the consequence of post conflict trauma and in restoring the broken social bonds. Therefore, the researcher recommends that much effort is needed from all local community and government bodies in order to bring sustained peace in the area by building the capacity of customary institutions such as Jaarsummaa (the council of elders).