The Sufi–Salafi Interactions in South Wollo, Ethiopia (1991-2017): Competition, Intolerance and Conflict
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The Sufi–Salafi Interactions in South Wollo, Ethiopia (1991-2017): Competition, Intolerance and Conflict By Mohammed Seid Mohammed A Dissertation Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Peace and Security Studies Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March, 2020 Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies Institute for Peace and Security Studies The Sufi–Salafi Interactions in Southern Wollo, Ethiopia (1991- 2017): Competition, Intolerance and Conflict Principal Supervisor: Dr. Mohammed Dejen Co- Supervisor: Prof. Terje Ostebo A Dissertation Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Peace and Security Studies BY Mohammed Seid Mohammed 20 July, 2020 Declaration I, the undersigned, declare that this PhD Dissertation entitled: The Sufi-Salafi Interaction in South Wollo, Ethiopia : Competition, Intolerance and Conflict is my original work, and has not been presented for a degree in any other University or academic institution, and that all source of materials used for the Dissertation are fully acknowledged and properly referenced. Mohammed Seid Mohammed _______________ _______________ Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies Institute for Peace and Security Studies Approval Sheet of the Examining Committee: This is to certify that the Dissertation prepared by Mohammed Seid Mohammed, entitled: The Sufi-Salafi Interaction in South Wollo, Ethiopia (1991-2017): Competition, Intolerance and Conflict and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Peace and Security Studies complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Dr. Mohammed Dejen March 9, 2020 _____________________ _________________ ______________ Supervisor Date Signature Terje Ostebo(Prof.) March 9, 2020 _______________ ______________ _______________ Co- Supervisor Date Signature Prof. Kenneth Omeje July 20, 2020 ______________________ _______________ _______________ Examiner Date Signature Prof. Habtamu July 20, 2020 _________________________ __________________ ___________________ Examiner Date Signature Chair of Institute or PhD Program Coordinator Dr. Yonas Adeto July 20, 2020 ___________________________ __________________ __________________ Name Date Signature Abstract This study examines the context, dynamics and predicaments of the Sufi-Salafi interactions in the context of South Wollo of Ethiopia from 1991 to 2017. Nonetheless, it is confined only on some negative aspects of their relations characterized by competition, intolerance and conflict. In doing so, the researcher employed a qualitative research method to gain insight into the Sufi-Salafi interactions as it allows the participants to interpret their social reality. Data generated through this approach are analyzed using discourse analysis, conflict mapping, conflict tree-model and onion-model of conflict analysis. Although agents of Islamic revivalism in the history of South Wollo were different (Sufis as agents of the nineteenth century Islam while Salafists for the contemporary), both utilized revivalism as a tool of maintaining the religious orthodoxy of Islam in subsequent centuries. This would refute the conventional knowledge which associates revivalism as the monopoly of Salafists. The nineteenth century Sufi revivalism was far more radical as it applied Jihad to address the local religious and political grievances while contemporary Salafi revivalism has a peaceful puritanist missionary agenda in South Wollo. Empirical evidences from Sufi-Salafi discourse revealed that the Sufi-Salafi competition is primarily triggered by the need to win converts, control organizational resources and disseminate doctrinal preferences. The absence of cooperation which is expressed in the form of obstruction, misperception, deception and manipulation between Sufis and Salafists hinders peace in the Muslim community of South Wollo. The study also finds that passive tolerance which is expressed in the form of marginalization, xenophobic attitude and emotional attacks using pejorative and derogatory terms impedes peaceful coexistence between Sufis and Salafists in South Wollo. Analysis on the intervention of external actors reveals that the interference of the government and Ahbash complicates the Sufi-Salafi relations through transforming the dormant conflict into active violence in South Wollo. The US government under the pretext of countering terrorism indirectly interfered in the Sufi-Salafi conflict through funding Sufi institutions. Although Islamic NGOs as external actors were allegedly accused of promoting Salafism in South Wollo, it could not be substantiated with evidences. A scrutiny on the causation of the conflict identifies structural, proximate and immediate factors responsible for the Sufi-Salafi conflict. The structural factor is related to actors’ distinct interpretation of Islam, the proximate factor evidenced by the imposition of Ahbash as the ideology of mejlis, and the 2012 controversial mejlis election and the killing of a Sufi cleric as the triggering factors for the Sufi-Salafi conflict in South Wollo. Although impartial intra-religious dialogue and negotiation was variously suggested as tools of resolution, it had been sabotaged by the government and Ahbash. This is evidenced by the interference of the government in the 2012 mejlis election and the eventual ascendancy of Ahbash leadership to the zonal mejlis. The realist security orientation of the government was also incompatible to resolve identity based intra-religious conflict in South Wollo as it ceded preference for its own state security. The researcher argues that the effectiveness of intra-religious peace and the transformation of the Sufi-Salafi conflict in South Wollo should be governed by the principles of non-interference, cooperation and peace building. i Glossary Addis Rae’ye New Vision Ahlal Sunna-wal-jema’ Followers of the tradition of the Prophet (Sunnah) Akerari Fundamentalist Alim(pl.ulema) A Muslim religious scholar Al-Ahbash A radical Sufi group founded in Lebanon by a man of Ethiopian descent (Sheikh Abdulahi of Harar) Ashebari Terrorist Baraka blessing of religious or communal leaders Bid’a. Innovation which is disgraceful in Islam Caliph Successor Chat A stimulant green leaf which is widely grown and used in Ethiopia Derg A military committee which ruled Ethiopia from 1974-1991 Fiqh Islamic Jurisprudence Hadith The saying and practice of the prophet Muhammed Haram Unlawful Hijab The veil or head covering worn by some Muslim women Ihsan An act of doing good Ijtihad Exercising of independent judgment Imam Leader of congregational praying Istislāh Judging on the basis of suitability ii Jihad Striving in the cause of Allah Kebeles The lowest level of government administration Kirestina A ceremony for baptism Mechal Forbearance Mechachal Tolerance Medhab Schools of Islamic Jurisprudence Mejlis All structures of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council Mujaddid Revivalist Niqab A face cover completely disguises women’s face except the two eyes Qiyas Analogy Salafism The revivalist ethos of Islam Sedeqa Post burial procession among Muslims of Ethiopia Sheikh /Shaykh Religious or communal leader Shirk The sin of associating another deity with Allah Sufism the mysticism of Islam Sultan A title used by Muslim rulers Sunnah The tradition of the Prophet Tariqa A Sufi way Tebel A holy water for Orthodx Christians Temben A deducted poem recited by the Sufis during the celebration of Meulid and other religious rituals Tewhid Islamic Monotheism iii Tezkar Post burial procession among Orthodox Christians Tsenfegna Extremists Yemuslimoch Guday Affairs of the Muslims Zakat Giving charity as alms iv Acronyms EOC Ethiopian Orthodox Church EPDRF Ethiopian People’s Democratic and Revolutionary Front AUUF Addis Ababa Ulema Unity Forum AEUP All Ethiopian Unity Party ARS Amhara Regional State USA United States of America NGO Non-Governmental Organization USG The United States Government MoFPDA The Ministry of Federal, Pastoralist and Development Affairs. v List of figures Figure 1: Conceptual frame work for the Sufi –Salafi Interactions Figure 2: Zonal and Woreda Map of South Wollo Figure 3: Mapping Actors of the Conflict Figure 4: The Trapezoid Causations of the Sufi-Salafi Conflict Figure 5: Analyzing the Sufi-Salafi conflict in South Wollo using a conflict tree Figure 6 : Salafists’ position, interest and need vis-à-vis Sufis in South Wollo Figure 7 : Sufis’ position, interest and need vis-à-vis Salafists in South Wollo vi Acknowledgments Doing a research on a very sensitive topic in the heyday of intra-religious crisis threatened not only participants of the study who have been securitized by the government but also the patience of the researcher in the field. At the midst of this, the cooperation and willingness of friends, family members, colleagues and institutions contributed for the realization of this research project. Thus, it is fair to acknowledge the financial, material, moral and intellectual assistances of institutions colleagues and individuals in this research endeavor. First and for most, I would like to extend my indebtedness to my principal advisor Dr. Mohammed Dejen who is one of the emerging scholars in the Institute of Federal Studies in Addis Ababa University