Impacts of Border in Borderland Conflict along the Ethio-Sudan Border: Evidence from Metema Woreda, North-Western Ethiopia

https://doi.org/10.22146/jh.52088

Temesgen Eyilet Kebede(1*)

(1) ASSOSA UNIVERSITY
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


The aim of the study is to understand the dynamics of borderland conflicts in one location –Gonder, north-west Ethiopia, specifically, Metema Woreda – which lies along the Ethiopia-Sudan border. The study employed qualitative research methods such as semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, case studies, and non-participant observation. The colonial origin of the Ethio-Sudan border is the overall background to the confrontation between farmers and investors over the contested lands in the region. The continued uncertainty over the precise location of the border has aggravated conflict that has yet to be resolved.

Keywords


Borderland; land conflict; border perception; Metema Woreda

Full Text:

PDF


References

Africa Union Border Programme (2014). Delimitation and Demarcation of Boundaries in Africa: The User’s Guide (2nd ed.). Ethiopia: African Union Commission.

Alao, W. (2007). Natural Resources and Conflict in Africa: The Tragedy of Endowment (1sted.). New York: NY: University of Rochester Press.

Anseeuw, W. and Alden, C. (eds.) (2010). The Struggle Over Land in Africa: Conflicts, Politics and Change (1st ed.). South Africa: Human Sciences Research Council Press.

Ansoms, A and Claessens, K. (2011). Land Relations and Local Livelihoods in the Great Lakes Region. In Ansoms and Marysse (eds.). Natural Resources and Local Livelihoods. UK: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.3-22.

Asebe, R. (2016). Competing Orders and Conflicts at the Margins of the State: Inter-Group Conflicts along the Ethiopia-Kenya Border. African Journal of Conflict Resolution, 16(2), 57-83.

Bloor, M. and Wood, F. (2006). Key Words in Qualitative Methods (1st ed.). A Vocabulary of Research Concepts. Great Britain: Cromwell Press.

Brewer, J. (2000). Ethnography. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Bryman, A. (2004). Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bujra, A. (2002). African Conflicts: Their Causes and Their Political and Social Environment. Ethiopia: Development Policy Management Forum.

Cascao, A. (2013). Resource-based Conflict in South Sudan and Gambella (Ethiopia): When Water, Land and Oil Mix with Politics. Retrieved from https://www. researchgate.net/publication/314453096, accessed on November 22, 2017.

Dawson, C. (2002). Practical Research Methods: A UserFriendly Guide to Mastering Research Techniques and Projects. United Kingdom: How to Books Ltd.

Derzwan, J. (2011). Conflict SensitiveLand Policy and Governance in Africa. Retrieved from http:// www.international-alert.org/publications/conflictsensitive-land-policy-and-land-governance-Africa, accessed on July 3, 2017.

Desalegn, M. (2008). Social Networks and Diffusion of Agricultural Technology: The Case of Sorghum in Metema Woreda, North Gondar, Ethiopia. MSc thesis, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.

Ezzy, D. (2002). Qualitative Analysis: Practice and Innovation. Australia: Allen &Unwin

Fife, W. (2005). Doing Field Work: Ethnographic Methods for Research in Developing Countries and Beyond. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan Press.

Johnson, D. (2010). When Boundaries Become Borders: The Impact of Boundary Making in Southern Sudan’s Frontier Zones. Contested Borderlands. United Kingdom: Rift Valley Institute.

Kassahun, G. (2014).The Role of Small Towns for Surrounding Rural Development: The Case of Metema Town, North West Ethiopia. Open Access Library Journal. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ oalib.1100930, accessed on December 182017.

Khotari, C. (2004). Research Methodology, Methods and Techniques (Rev.ed.). India: New Age International.

Kolossov,V. (2005). Border Studies: Changing Perspectives and Theoretical Approaches. Geopolitics, 10(2), 606–632, DOI: 10.1080/14650040500318415.

Leonardi,C. and Santschi, M. (2016). Dividing Communities in South Sudan and Northern Uganda: Boundary Disputes and Land Governance. London: Rift Valley Institute.

Marvasti, A. (2004). Qualitative Research in Sociology: An Introduction (1sted.). London: Sage publication.

Meala,T. (2011). The Causes of Return to Conflict and the Geopolitical Dynamics in the Horn of Africa: The Eritrean-Ethiopian Border Conflict. Unpublished Master’s Thesis, University of London, England.

Okumu,W. (2010). Resource and Border Disputes in Eastern Africa. Journal of East African Studies, 4(2), 279 -297.

Payne, G. and Payne, J. (2004). Key Concepts in Social Research. London: Sage publications.

Ramsbotham, A., and Zartman, W. (2011). An International Review of Peace Initiatives: Building Peace Across Borders. United Kingdom: Conciliation Resources Press.

Tasew, G. (2017). Cross-Border Intergroup Conflicts in the Horn of Africa: A Case Study of Ethiopia-South Sudan Borderland People. https://www.wilsoncenter. org/article/ethiopia- south-sudan-cross-borderconflicts, accessed on May 19, 2018.

Tesfaye, M. (2017). Borderland Communities in the Horn: Avoiding Assumptions and Learning from History. Horn of Africa Bulletin, 29(3), 5-19.

Teshome, T. (2009). Characteristics of Property Units in Ethiopia, the Case of Two Pilot Projects in Amhara National Regional State. Nordic Journal of Surveying and Real Estate Research, 6(2), 7-24.

USAID (2005). Toolkit on Land and Violent Conflict. Retrieved from http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/ crosscuttingprograms/conflict/publications/toolkits. html, accessed on August 2, 2017.

Vanderstoep, S and Johnston, D. (2009). Research Methods for Everyday Life: Blending Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (1sted.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.



DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/jh.52088

Article Metrics

Abstract views : 7489 | views : 4020

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.




Copyright (c) 2020 Humaniora

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.