The Roots Cause of Cross Border Conflict in Gambella Regional State between Jikany-Nuer and Lou-Nuer

Abstract

Numerous of the world’s pastoral societies have a long history of conflicts among themselves those are caused by many intermingling factors happening simultaneously. These uncontrolled cross border fighting resulted in socio-economic deterioration and loss of many lives. The objective of this article is to identify the root causes of the cross border conflicts between Jikany-Nuer and Lou-Nuer. The study is qualitative and purposive type of research. Secondary and primary data were collected using questionnaire, interview, focus groups discussion and documents analysis. The study was conducted in Gambella region of Ethiopia and its adjacent regions in South Sudan. The respondents were from affected communities, government officials and development agencies. The conflict between Jikany-Nuer and Lou-Nuer started on March 27, 1993 in place called Dualdap in South Sudan. From all sources of conflicts between Nuer and Murle the root causes are the scarcity of resources like grazing land and water pools, livestock raiding, fishing, insults and assaults. They were those fighting’s that erupted between ethnic groups in South Sudan those extended to the communities in Gambella of Ethiopia. To alleviate these hostilities the regional governments should form join peace committee that comprise local communities’ elders, youths and religious people from communities living in both sides to have join border administration.

Keywords: Conflict, cross-border, root causes, pastoralists, tribalism