Abstract:
As Dire Dawa is territorially coterminous with the Somali and Oromo regions, it became
a bone of contention between the two regions. Both regions lay their claims over the city
on the basis of ethnic territoriality. Previously Both Oromo and Somali experience
ongoing contestation about land, border, and identities. However, since 1991 the nature
and cause of the contestation among Somali and Oromo in and around the regional state
particularly at Dire Dawa city administration contestation have been transformed into
territorial and ethnic contestation. This study focused on assessing how inter-ethnic
contestation impacted the development of the city administration. It attempts to explore
the dynamics occur since 1991 in the city administration and also in what extent
interethnic contestation among Somali and Oromo impacted the development of Dire
Dawa city administration. This study has employed qualitative research design to
investigate the public perception of the impact of inter-ethnic contestation on
development in the study area. Under the qualitative research design the researcher used
the following method of data collection such as interviews (key informant interview and
in-depth interview) focus group discussion, and observation as primary data source. The
participants were purposively selected. Additionaly, Secondary data source were
obtained. Before data analysis, the researcher-created a collected data to be transcribed
and translated then organized data was triangulated, descried and analyzed through the
use of narrated analysis. It includes the finding of the research and also conclusion and
recommendation.
