The Roles, Challenges and Opportunities of Gadaa System in Resolving Water Conflict: The Case of Borana Oromo

摘要

The main objective of this study was to explore theroles, challenges and opportunities of Gadaa system on water conflictresolution in Borana Zone of Oromia. Qualitative method was used to achieve theobjectives of the study. Relevant information was gathered from both primaryand secondary sources. With regard to collecting the primary data, keyinformant interview; structured and semi-structured interviews, focus groupdiscussions, and observation were used. The study revealed that the Gadaasystem has been an egalitarian socio-economic, political and cultural systemwhich had been practiced by the Oromo society for a long time. It had beenguiding and regulating the life of the Oromo in relation to other peoples andtheir environment. The study also confirmed that Gadaa system has a great rolein resolving conflicts that occur in a society by employing customary laws. Theroles of women in conflict resolution within Gadaa system, the constraintsfaced Gadaa system’s institutions while resolving conflicts and the main waterorgans of Borana Oromo are other findings of this study. The study also came upwith the historical roles of Gadaa system, procedures of conflict resolving andsocial structures of the Borana Oromo society. Lastly, the study verified theBorana Oromo’s view of conflict. Though most of the key informants viewedconflict as inevitable and natural which could prevail in any society on thecontrary, few of them viewed conflict as bad and destructive. The findingsfurther showed the opportunities of practicing Gadaa system for Ethiopia aswell as for Oromo community.