Preventing inter-ethnic conflict Evidence from the Gereb traditional institutions in Northeast Ethiopia

Abstract

A review of major literature on conflict prevention reveals a lack of consensus on the subject matter. One strand of the debate revolves around whether conflict prevention should be limited solely to the early and non-escalatory stages of conflict, or it should also encompass the escalation and post-conflict stages. Other scholars question the feasibility of assessing whether preventive actions have made a difference. Additionally, examining the role of traditional institutions in conflict prevention introduces a third layer of complexity to the discussion as they are typically approached within the context of conflict resolution. This paper investigates the role of traditional institutions in preventing inter-ethnic conflicts, focusing on the case of Gereb in northeast Ethiopia. The study draws upon documentary materials spanning from 2006 to 2020 and interviews with 40 key informants representing all major stakeholders and FGD with members of the community in the locality. It discovered that local communities have their own concepts of peace, conflict, and conflict prevention. The paper argues that not only is it possible to measure conflict prevention interventions, but traditional institutions are capable of preventing inter-ethnic conflict and the Gerebs have successfully prevented inter-ethnic death and reduced conflicts from communal to individual levels. This suggests that the sustainability of peace hinges upon the local community's ownership of the peace process itself, highlighting the efficacy of a bottom-up approach in addressing conflicts across Africa.