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Are Afars on their way to Somalization ? Case of Gewanie Afar In fighting over Land-Lease

Are Afars on their way to Somalization ? Case of Gewanie Afar In fighting over Land-Lease. BRUSSELS 2010 YASIN MOHAMMED YASIN. Concepts.

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Are Afars on their way to Somalization ? Case of Gewanie Afar In fighting over Land-Lease

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  1. Are Afars on their way to Somalization? Case of Gewanie Afar In fighting over Land-Lease BRUSSELS 2010 YASIN MOHAMMED YASIN

  2. Concepts... • Somalization-is a geopolitical syndrome characterized by multiple long-term security, socio-political and economic breakdowns and abnormalities. In this sense, Somalization resembles other political syndromes like Afghanization, Lebanization and Balkanization. (Khaled Fattah: Yemen Times,11.02.2008)

  3. ...Concepts • If Somalization is state failure and the Afars have no state of their own to speak about, how can we speak of failure of Afar state? - The ANRS vs. share on the pie - Afars do have common clan structure, allegiance and identity that was behind the Somali state failure.

  4. Some Examples of Intra-Afar Conflicts • Assahyamara and Adohyamera – Lake Asel • Ankalas vs. Hamedi Siret - southern Rahayta • Debneik Weima vs. Modayto • Debneik Weima vs Ba’adu • Damohita of Bidu vs. Hadermo

  5. The Case in Gewanie • The March 2010 Incident - several Afars were injured and an old man from the Ulutok Sheka tribe was shot dead from bullets fired by the Mahisera tribe

  6. Triggering Factor for the March 2010 Incident • The killing of an Afar youth, Sulle Ali of the Mahisera tribe on January 2010 • The Mahisera who got annoyed with the act of the Ulutok sought revenge and killed two people from Ulutok Sheka • By the end of April, Gewane wereda administrator, Yakud Hawino was shot and killed

  7. Questions in Mind • Do the Afars of Gewanie choose to repeat the ugliest part of tribal warfare in the Afar history? • What factors triggered this conflict? • What is the bone of contention? • Who are the major players? Any hidden hands? • What about the role of influential figures in Gewanie? • How does the regional government entertain the matter? • What about the future prospect in Gewanie particular and its implication for the Afar in general?

  8. Clan Structure in Gewanie • The three major tribeswithin the 11 kebeles in Gewanie wereda are: - Ali Sera (Mahisera, Ulutok Sheka, Geli’ela and Tek’eil ,…) - Yassin Sera (Wadima ke Meysara) - Ma’aa Sera

  9. Brief History of Conflicts in Gewanie & Resolution Efforts… • A months and half long resolution effort since June 2005- the arbitration group led by veteran Afar leader, Habib Mohammed Yayyo • New neutral elders- Abitto Mokkie (Amibara), Elidar, Dubti, Aysiata, Mile weredas

  10. …Brief History of Conflicts in Gewanie & Resolution Efforts • Case of Tek’eil – Meysara- the Meysaras are found to be guilty of killing two from Tek’eil. • Case of Geli’ela- Meysara that results death of one and injuring fifteen from the Geli’ela and three from Meysara- the Meysaras are found to be guilty • Yamerendi - Meysara conflict, again the Meysara were found to be guilty of the destruction and looting of cattle

  11. Identifying the Root Cause & Aggravating Factors • So called ‘neutral elders’ from Buri Modaytu – salary, office • urri elleyoome caxxaa: Fanak klaanah (meaning to stop kids from fighting, first remove the stick they are fighting with) • The Gutto hinna (never be pushed!)

  12. Why the Land?... • The Afar lands are divided into number of tribal territories (Dinto) demarcated by boundaries (Dikka), which follows natural features such as rivers, hills and rocks. • The tribe as social and political unit giving an individual sense of identification , belonging, protection,  and the rights of grazing (Aloliya), rights of watering (Desso), right of using the camels, milking of one's own tribe  or using as means of transportation (Merra) whenever one is in dire need and deems it necessary.   • These Social fabrics and institutions persisted long even after the 1950s rape of the Afarland

  13. The Returned lands: Silent Weapons • Political consumption or Instrumentalization of knowledge about Afar’s tribal factionalism • Lease the land to private investors -eventually led to breaking down the socio-economical and political institutions of the Afar. - youths can’t farm - clans massively indebted- developing dependence attitude - environmental degradation- centuries-old adaptation to the ecosystem - aggressive competitions to expand land-political power monger- manipulating tribal cards

  14. List of Private Investors in Gewanie

  15. Any Way out? • Thought-Provoking and Timely Warning before it takes Somali proportions • Gennile or Bax(r)itoo " yoo derabb lee sinnih abayy yee raboww !! " Meaning  "I hope my God will prove me wrong" inshallah

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