Ethiopia's Pastoralist Policies: Development, Displacement and Resettlement

Abstract

Ethiopia's current economic plans call for extensive development along its riverine resources in lowland regions, areas typically occupied by pastoral and agro-pastoral peoples. These plans include the development of large dams for hydroelectric power and irrigating large agricultural estates producing sugar, cotton and rice in state-run and privately owned businesses. Nearly all of these projects entail the relocation and resettlement of populations away from the rivers, and threaten the livelihoods and way of life of small but distinct ethnic groups. Although criticised widely by international human rights organisations, the Ethiopian government maintains these developments will ultimately benefit both affected populations and the country as a whole. This paper reviews particular development projects on the Omo River and Awash River and in Gambela Region, and refers to works by NGOs and human rights organisations seeking alternative approaches to resettlement.

Indigenous conflict management and resolution mechanisms on rangelands in pastoral areas, Ethiopia

“…The appropriation of pastoral lands without consultation of pastorals for state commercial farms and private investors, and marginalizing the pastoralist from fertile grazing lands forced pastoralist to fight with the state and investors (Fratkin, 2014). The conflict between pastoral and state conflicts also arises from the government established conservation areas, and the pastoralist's loss their lands and blame the government for not being a part in benefit sharing's.…”

“…Many factors including government economic plan, pastoral policy, land tenure right and other factors are responsible factors for the decline in effectiveness of customary institutions (Clever and Alice, 2014;Fratkin, 2014). Almost all of the government economic plans are the threat to the pastorals due to the relocation and resettlement of populations away from their key resources (Fratkin, 2014), which in turn affects the effectiveness of customary institutions.…”

“…Between ethnic groups and 7. Trans-border conflict (Kelemework, 2011;Abdisalem, 2012;Anteneh et al, 2014;Fratkin, 2014;Mohammed and Beyene, 2016).…”

Can communities close to Bui National Park mediate the impacts of Bui Dam construction? An exploration of the views of some selected households

“…Although, dam construction has some benefits, the adverse impacts are also very clear such as, the loss of infrastructure, economic upheavals, shift in social roles and loss of assets that support community livelihoods (Biswas, 2012;Peter, 2013;Fratkin, 2014). Dam construction can also impact community governance structures including land title and indigenous rights (Bennett and McDowell, 2012).…”

The Continuing Significance of Rural Landscapes in the Urban Century

“…But, needless to say, there are also multiple risks attached: the dams are transforming the landscapes and livelihoods of people all around them. In Ethiopia, the Gibe III Dam means that flood retreat agriculture, long-practiced by peoples in the Lower Omo Valley, is becoming impossible, and grazing areas and wildlife reserves are being replaced by large-scale commercial sugar cane plantations (Turton, 2011;Fratkin, 2014). And the changes are crossing borders: it is predicted, conservatively, that the level of Lake Turkana, Kenya's largest lake, may drop more than 20m as a consequence of the developments, potentially resulting in two smaller lakes (Avery, 2013).…”