Dispute resolution mechanisms among the Afar People of Ethiopia and their contribution to the Development Process
Abstract
Disputes are one of the major factors negatively affecting the development process of any
nation. They divert resources that could otherwise be used productively; hence, there
appears to be general agreement on their undesirability (Alexander 2005). Disputeresolution
practices and peace-building mechanisms remain problematic for most
societies in the world including those in Africa, as most of them are trying to imitate
Western modalities instead of using their own indigenous knowledge systems and skills.
The dispute-resolution practices of the ancient Ethiopians in have been established for
many thousands of years, and have been used to prevent loss of life and the destruction of
property. This paper reveals that the dispute-resolution practices of the Afar people of
Ethiopia significantly contributed to the development process. The article reveals that it
is difficult to attain development without developing dispute resolution practices and it
also shows that it is difficult, though not impossible, to resolve disputes without assuring
development by eliminating poverty. Thus, it concludes that the ancient Aksumite,
which was one of the first four great civilizations on earth, must have developed a unique
type of dispute resolution practices that enabled Ethiopia of that time to be one of the
leading countries in the globe during that time. No doubt every nation has its own
indigenous dispute-resolution practices. It is thus possible to resolve disputes in by using
indigenous knowledge systems, instead of using Western modalities. In this paper, the
dispute-resolution practices of the Afar people of Ethiopia are discussed.