ROLES, PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF CUSTOMARY CONFLICT RESOLUTION MECHANISMS AMONG HADIYYA: THE CASE OF MISRAK BADAWACHO WOREDA

Abstract

This study has examined Roles, practices and challenges of customary conflict resolution mechanisms among Hadiya: The case of Misrak Badawacho Woreda. To achieve the objective of the study, the qualitative research method was employed and both primary and secondary sources of data were used. In terms of sample size, 30 informants were used in total. 16 key informants from different groups of people (based on age, sex, educational status) and 2 focus group discussion, each group consists seven members from different target groups such as elders, local authorities and personal observation. The results obtained from the study suggest that conflicts in Hadiya, as in anywhere else, may vary from trivial interpersonal disagreements to a serious dispute which might eventually lead to homicide. The most common type of conflict issues in Hadiya are theft, robbery, family disputes, inheritance, dispute on killing someone or homicide, arson and abduction. The customary conflict resolution mechanism become the solution for such types of conflicts to save the times and cost from the injured persons that they used to process cases to legal courts. The actors such as community elders, religious leaders and clan leaders play a great role in resolving conflicts by reducing its further escalation. Customary conflict resolving institutions have played a great role to solve different local conflicts and for the development of modern institutions. Thus, parties in dispute usually prefer their case to be resolved by the traditional process for its lasting effect in restoring peace, and security and also kill sense of revenge. Customary institutions have unique mechanism in solving conflicts among society and should be preserved for the next generation and therefore, responsible bodies such as government, non government organizations, and researchers preserve customary institutions