Bogale Aligaiz Agalu, AJHC, 2020; 3:16

Research Article AJHC 2020,3:16

American Journal of History and Culture (ISSN:2637-4919)

Interaction and Conflict among the Nuer and Anuak communities

Bogale Aligaiz Agalu Department of History, Injibara

ABSTRACT

Gambella regional state is located in the southwestern *Correspondence to Author: with diverse ethnic groups. From the ethnic groups, Anuak and Bogale Aligaiz Agalu Nuer are dominant in the region. Both interacted in marriage, Department of History, Injibara support each other in the time of famine as well as war and fol- lowed traditional religion. Their interaction violated by conflicts in the second half 19th century. The conflict caused by the ques- How to cite this article: tion of natural resources, Parliamentary seats and curriculum Bogale Aligaiz Agalu.Interaction and media of instruction in school. This fight caused the death of and Conflict among the Nuer and human beings and destruction of material properties on the both Anuak communities. American ethnic groups. Hostilities and conflicts between them had no Journal of History and Culture, earned solution due to outbreak of First World War. 2020,3:16.

Keywords: Interaction, Conflict, Gambella

eSciPub LLC, Houston, TX USA. Website: https://escipub.com/

AJHC: https://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 1 Bogale Aligaiz Agalu, AJHC, 2020; 3:16 Introduction cattle people par excellence in Africa and the world. The cattle pervade is the Nuer economic, The State of Gambella is situated in the social and spiritual life (Ibid: 52).The Nuer Southwestern part of Ethiopia bordering with people are largely livestock dependent and are Benishangul Gumuz to the north, Oromo region mostly found in and parts of to the west, the Southern people’s regional state woreda. During rainy seasons, Akobo and to the south and the newly birth republic of South Jikawo became flooded and as result, they to the west. migrate to the highland areas with their cattle Like other parts of Ethiopia, Gambella regional until the river banks reed (Abraham, 2002:2). state is inhabited by diverse ethnics such as On the other hand, the Anuaks are found on the Anuak, Mezenge, opuo, Kumo, Nuer, Olam, Akobo and Pibor rivers in the Sudan (Bender, Dhwok, Bula Maw and Murle. Among these 1975:47). It was believed that, Anuaks came into ethnic groups, the Nuer and Anuaks are the Ethiopia from the valley during the process dominant people in the region. Their language of Nilotic expansion. The Anuaks are also belongs to Nilo-Saharan super family. thought to have come from the so called “cradle Agro-ecologically, the Gambella is land of the Nilotes” or from further south east predominantly lowland (kola) with a few near Lake Rudolf and Victoria in and midlands (wena Dega). The economy of the (Abraham, 2002:2). Unlike Nuers, they region is based on agriculture, semi-pastoralists, are mainly agricultural dependent people with bee keeping and fishing. This paper lays out the livestock, fishing and hunting as their social, economic, cultural and political supplementary income sources (Ibid: 3). interaction and conflict among Nuer and Anuak Methodology in the region. For a long period of time, the relation between Anuaks and Nuers are This research was conducted based on the characterized by violent actions. This ethnic qualitative approach. Both primary and disturbance was later precipitated by the state secondary sources of data are utilized. The key sponsored resettlement program of the Derg informants and document analysis are included. since 1980’s. The ethnic conflict caused the Unstructured interviews were carried out with death of human beings and destruction of intention of collecting the required data. Elders material properties. of Nuer and Anuaks are interviewed in depth. Published and unpublished sources are cross- Historical Context of Anuak and Nuers checked with responses of key informants. The The Nuer and Anuaks were believed to be collected data from key informant interview and originated from outside Ethiopia. Nuers live written sources were critically analyzed, mostly in Southern Sudan, in the east upper Nile narrative and summarized in document Province with extending up to the sabot across investigation methodology. the Ethiopia border. The center of the Nuer area Results and Discussion is around Lake No. They were migrated to Ethiopia from southern Sudan (Bender, Likewise other part of Ethiopia, Gambella 1975:51). Nuer villages are scattered along the regional state is populated by various ethnic intermingled with the Anuak, in groups. The Anuak and Nuers is the dominant western most of Illubabor. people in the region from the others. Their language belongs to the same super family, Nilo- The have black skin color and their Saharan .They interact in marriage, supporting height is too long. They are believed to have each other in famine, disease as well as war and linkage with the Dinke people in terms of culture. followed the traditional As Bender stated, the Nuer are known as religion(Tadesse,2009:6). But, in the mid 1980’s “Abigar” in the . They are noted as the AJHC: https://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 2 Bogale Aligaiz Agalu, AJHC, 2020; 3:16 has witnessed conflict between Anauk and extended to the level of village community (Ibid: Nuers(Dereje,2009:642). This paper 219-238). emphasized the interaction and conflict among The Anuaks and Nuer were supporting each Nuer and Anuak communities in the Gambella other in time of famine, disease as well as war. region, southwest Ethiopia. When the were invaded by the Socio-economic and Political Aspects of neighboring Oromo, the Nuer were supporting Anuak and Nuers them by providing shelter, in turn, the Anuaks The people of Gambella in general do not inherit introduced the Nuer to ivory trade with the monoculture as the region composes of different Oromo according Meckleberg. Anuak villages ethnic groups each of which has its own dialect such as Pinymoo and Imedho had alliances with and way of life. As result, the social, economic, villages of Nuer, Canngac and Puldeng political and cultural varied from tribe to tribe. respectively. When the two villages fought, Although some similarities existed especially in Canngac were supplying guns to Pinymmo and marriage could be identified between the Anuak Puldeng did the same thing to and Nuer tribes. The Anuak-Nuer of Sobat, Baro Imedho(“Politicization” Vol.2:806). and Pibor lived in varying degrees of cooperation According to informants, large numbers of and interaction (Gach, Pual, Jal). The Nuer Anuak and Nuers have been followed traditional married Anuak girls, Anuak boys were given religion, small numbers accepted Christianity. Nuer initiation marks on their skin; the Anuak Since Amharic is declared as the official lived in Nuer villages; milk and grain were language of the Coptic Church, the bible exchanged, which benefited both groups parched and written by mother tongue language, (Tadesse, 2009:6). Back in tradition, marriage in it would help them to share experiences while Anuak and Nuer has been usually negotiated attending church services (Gach, Pual, Jal). In outside the bride and glooms knowledge by their case of traditional religion, the Anuak have families and sometimes can involve the use of normally had a kind attitude towards the sprits force. Marriage in both tribes involves the dowry and witch doctors. They have been considered which is paid to the bird’s family (Lam, Ruach, as the only people to whom to go in the case of Jal). Because of development and civilization sickness. The witch doctors might be a Nuer which is currently taking place, there has been ethnic group who might come to help the sick minimize dowry paying to the girl’s family. Men people in Anuak villages and other ethnic groups and women in both tribes have had the (Bender, 1975:194-195). They believed the opportunity to choose each other whom they traditional animalist sprit known as Gowk. Trees want to marry. Also, both tribes practices played an important part in their religion and polygamy like the other tribes lived in the even today there are villages which include Gambella region (Jal, Gach, Paul). “holy” trees. Traditionally, cattle play an The villages of Anuak and Nuer had bond of important part in Nuer religion and ritual. Cows Partnership (Kurimoto, 2002:219-238). In the dry are dedicated to the spirits of the owner’s season, the Nuer used to come with their cattle lineages and any personal spirits that may have in search of grasslands on the banks of the Baro possessed them at any time (Evans-Pritchard, River while their permanent villages were on the 1940:1-13). They linked with their ancestor Sudanese side. The Nuer men would able to spirits by throwing ashes along the backs of build up his relationship by giving goat to the oxen or cows. Nothing ceremony is complete Anuak men. In return, the Anuak men would give without such a sacrifice. They worship a some tobacco. The Nuer might also ask a piece supreme being called “Kwoth” who was various of land for cultivation or settlement. This Anuak- manifestations with which claim to have Nuer bond partnership at the individual could be personal relationships (Ibid: 1-13). AJHC: https://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 3 Bogale Aligaiz Agalu, AJHC, 2020; 3:16 Anuak and Nuer are differed in such way. The This concerned with long term factors underlying Eastern parts of Anuak are basically sedentary internal conflicts have different causes, take agriculturalists (Shumet, 1985:132). In dry different shape in different countries as well as season, fishing on the Baro and regions and often lead population displacement. also supplements of their diet. In contrary to the In most cases, as it is also the case in some Eastern Part, western Anuak take part to raise parts of Ethiopia, Ethnic differences seem to be domestic animals with regard to crop production major causes of conflicts. In reality, a multitude of sorghum and corn (David, 1978:464). The of factors such as resource scarcity, lack of good Nuer is first and for most pastoral peoples, with governance and transparency with a high regular dispersal and regrouping of members of degree of power centralization, power sharing local communities. In the nature of their and unequal access to resources and the pattern occupation, the Nuer individually lives more of settlement that brought shared resources lonely lives than the Anuak(Godfrey,1962:74- causes conflicts (Tesfay, 2007:24). 85). Other attractive culture of the Nuer that Borders artificially alter the value of resources, varied from the Anuak tribes is that of “garring”, depending on which side of the line they rest. As the cutting of six parallel horizontal stripes from result, groups of people who are denied the right ear to ear across fore head in young of man to access shared resources can easily trigger hood, which like circumcision among many inter- ethnic conflicts. The situation becomes Ethiopian people’s (Bender, 1975:53). worsen and brought resources scarcity. The traditional political organization of Anuak Although this assertion is concerned more with and Nuer had both common values and different inter-conflicts than with intra-state, it can apply systems. There were two distinct kinds of to countries such as Ethiopia where ethnic traditional political organization in Anuak namely based boundaries are drawn (Ibid: 25). (noble, singular nyieya) and Kwaari (head men, Gambella is one of the administrative regions in singular, Kwaaro). Such leadership was based Ethiopia with diverse ethnic groups. Since in the on the certain lineage. Although, the difference mid 1980’s has been witnessed factional fighting exists in the degree of authority, both traditional and inter-community violence in the region. The leaders perform identical activities such as western Part of the region identified by five types peacekeeping, distributing the wealth and ritual of conflict: - inter-ethnic, intra-conflict, obligations. While all nobles belong to one royal indigenous and migrants; the state against clan, head men are from various clans ethnic groups and cross border conflicts (Dereje, (Kurimoto, 2002:8-10). With regard to the 2009:642). But, the study explored this inter face degree of authority, the noble exercised the from one angle. This is the underlying inter- highest power than head men became; noble ethnic conflict among Anuak and Nuer (nyieye) can exercise the power over different communities in Gambella region. Anuak-Nuer villages, while the power of head men (kwaaro) conflict is first and for most ethnic conflict in the is limited to his own village. The Nuer were southwestern part of Ethiopia in the second half pastoralists, there was a great deal of mobility of of nineteenth century. The need to control leadership in the Nuer than Anuak. But, the resources and cultural identity-related issues, mobility follows the seasonal shift. Due to the the nature and the intensity of conflicts over the seasonal shift both followers and leaders were last two decades has been transformed by the not expected to stay in one place on either side Sudanese civil war and political realties in of the border for a long of time (Johnson, Ethiopia. 1986:90-95). Causes of Anuak-Nuer Disputes Tensions Leading to the Nuer-Anuak Ethnic The question of natural resources Conflicts AJHC: https://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 4 Bogale Aligaiz Agalu, AJHC, 2020; 3:16 Though insignificant in its nature and causality annexing more lands. The Nuer reiterates here inter-group conflict between Anuak and Nuer that Anuak often left their land before Nuer can be traced as far back as the early twentieth settled in. The Anuak always prepare to live very century. Livelihoods pursued by these two far from Nuer because the cattle are threats to groups are one of the major causes for conflict. their farming business. Cattle don’t respects any As mentioned above while Anuaks are primarily boundaries which often Anuak. This always the cultivators, the Nuers are mainly pastoralists triggering event when these two come in close (Abraham, 2002:2). The Nuers (Jikang) conflict with each other. Competition over scarce migrated to the east from Southern Sudan. The natural resource is compounded by struggle for main driving forces of Nuer territorial expansion political power at the regional level. Power are access to land control over vital natural struggle between Anuak and Nuer elites resources, cultivation and pasture lands along expected a greater political advancement over the tributaries of the sabot. The resource-driven their Nuer counter parts, which they did not movements of the Nuer have resulted not only in (Dereje, 2002:642). their territorial but also demographic expansion The question of majority group seats in the (Dereje, 2009:643). Radically formulated parliamentary system assimilations society that it is Nuer has absorbed This is the most important factor that accelerated many Anuak in to their society (Ibid: 643). the struggle between the Anuak and Nuer Although the Nuer and Anuak are linguistically communities in the region. It is well known that interrelated and engage in various forms of being a majority group means more seats in the social and economic exchanges, they government parliamentary system and other nevertheless form distinct ethnic communities. political privileges (Abraham, 2002:4). In fact, In the early days, the Nuer was sensitive to the the Nuer managed to occupy the two key offices Anuak mode of production and where they of administration and party secretariat. Early in careful that their cattle did not destroy Anuak the 1980’s dissatisfied Anuak elites established cultivated fields. Social controls in habited raids a liberation movement known as the Gambella against these immediate neighbors and relations people’s liberation movement (GPLM) to fight with people directly on the boarder of the Nuer the Derg. Allied with Ethiopian people’s settlement were more relaxed (Tadesse, revolutionary Democratic front (EPRDF), the 2009:5). Anuak took control over the newly constituted Thereafter, large scale hostilities continued Gambella regional state in 1991(Dereje, between the two groups, however, largely due to 2009:644). the incompatible modes of production and The other turning point of Anuak anger against livelihood. Traditionally, a major cause of Nuer- the Derg was alienation of their land because of Anuak conflict is animals trespassing on to the regime’s resettlement program (Tadesse, Anuak farm land where they live in mixed 2009:9). This program results the Anuaks settlement or in neighboring villages(Ibid:6). The landless and their land was seized by the settlers Nuer is gained confidence and begun to allow that came from high lands. All these their cattle to graze on the farm fields of the developments added to the unhappiness of Anuak and ready to fight (Ibid).The Anuak used Anuak of Gambella, overshadowing the far- war as the only option to stop the advancing of reaching social and economic changes under Nuer. In early to late twentieth century, the taken by the Derg in the region. The Nuer then Anuak, organized many campaign to stop the felt marginalized and unable to gain a seat which advancing Nuer from taking their lands. These was resulted in violent conflicts between the campaigns and many others did not contribute Anuak and Nuer throughout the 1990’s. This for reiterate of Nuer from advancing and signified the three major violent conflicts AJHC: https://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 5 Bogale Aligaiz Agalu, AJHC, 2020; 3:16 between the groups. The first established from occurred in 2002 on issues related to succession 1991-92 when militant section of Gambella to the office of vice president. In post 1991, the peoples liberation movement committed atrocity Gambella office of the regional presidency is against civilian Nuer. As result, thousands of allocated to the Anuak whereas the office of vice Ethiopian Nuer migrated into Sudan and settled president and the secretary are allocated the as refuges in the Southern Sudan. The Nuers Nuer and the Majangir respectively. Therefore, destructed the villages of Anuak by following the competition for political leadership in the new counter offensive along the Baro River. framework of ethnic federalism is the cause of Secondly, the Nuer contestation of Anuak conflict (Kurimoto, 2002:225-230). Between political dominance results another war that 1991-2003 power in Gambella was dominated broke out in Itang district in 1998(Dereje, by Anuak( “Politicization vol2:811). 2002:644). Thirdly, a more deadly conflict

No Name of Age Place Date of Remarks informants interview

1 Gach Tut(Ato) 26 Bahir Dar 11/12/2011 He is natural science teacher from Akobo woreda and University undergraduate student in Bahir Dar University.

2 Jal Chol(Ato) 28 Bahir Dar 11/12/2011 Physical education teacher from Abole woreda and University Undergraduate student in the Bahir Dar University.

3 Lam Dobu(Ato) 26 Bahir Dar 11/12/2011 He is plan and information officer in Lora woreda and University Postgraduate student in Bahir Dar University.

4 Paul Joak(Ato) 28 Bahir Dar 11/12/2011 He is high school director of pinkew in the Abole University woreda and postgraduate student in Bahir Dar University.

5 Ruach 30 Bahir Dar 11/12/2011 Social science teacher from Lora woreda and Them(Ato) University undergraduate student in Bahir Dar University.

The question of curriculum and media of Even though, there was hostilities and conflict, instruction in school. there were still cooperation and peaceful relation The other reason of conflict between the Nuer between the Nuer and Anuak communities. and Anuak was the language that should be There were situations, were the Anuak lived in taught in school. Both groups argue that their Nuer society or under Nuer leaders (Johnson, own language should be taught in school in the 1986:238). Under this condition, inter marriage, region since their languages have been taught exchange of cattle and mingling of settlement beginning from 1995. Ultimately, the introduction was happened. For example, Anuak settled in of federalism encouraged Nuer teachers to left Itang area established friendly and peaceful the teaching profession to join government relations with the Gaajak Nuer. posts. Because of this, “books in Several attempts were made to settle the ethnic are no longer produced.” Currently, both the conflicts of Anuak and Nuer. In 1912, one Anuak and Nuer language is taught up to grade headman was able to reduce tensions of Anuak ten as the common in the region (Abraham, and Nuer. In the years from 1908-1910, the 2002:5). Therefore, there is also area of British colonial government tried its best to interaction in school until grade ten (Ibid). cease the Anuak-Nuer conflict and to maintain Measure taken to settle Anuak-Nuer Ethnic effective administration over the bloodshed conflict regions. Such colonial measures played a great role to suppress and reduce the degree of AJHC: https://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 6 Bogale Aligaiz Agalu, AJHC, 2020; 3:16 confrontation. As a result, Nuer- Anuak raid [1]. Abraham Seweunet. “Breaking the Cycle of the reduced between the 1913 and 1914. On the conflict in Gambella Region.” Assessment Mission: 23 Dec-29 Dec 2009- Emergences Unit other hand, in 1913, the Ethiopian government of Ethiopia: Addis Ababa, 2003. had taken measure to bring Anuak and Nuer [2]. Bender, M. Lionel. The Ethiopian Nilo-Saharans. close together (Ibid). Similarly, the Sudanese Addis Ababa. Artistic Printing press, 1975 government attempted to negotiate Anuak and [3]. David, Osterlund. “The Anuak of South Western Nuer in 1914. However, the outbreak of the First Ethiopia.” A study of its Music within the Context of its socio-cultural setting.” Michigan: University World War makes the mediation fruitless. of Illinois, 1978. Consequences of the Anuak-Nuer conflict [4]. Dereje Feyissa. “The Ethnic Self and the National The existence of conflict between Anuak and other: Anuak Identity politics in reference to the Ethiopian state system.” N.p.n.d web 6/7/2011. Nuer ethnic group in the Gambella region since [5]. Evans-Pritchard, Edward. The political system of in the late 1980’s resulted the migration of the Anuak of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. New Ethiopian Nuer into and stayed as York: Amps, 1940. refuge, the assimilation of Anuak society by the [6]. Johnson,Douglas. “On the Nilotic Frontier: Nuer in some extent and the Anuak lost their Imperial Ethiopia in Southern Sudan, 1898-1936.” Ed. Donald Donham and Wendy James. farm land and served as grazing land of Cambridge University, 1986. Nuers(Tadesse,2009:24). The Anuak-Nuer [7]. Kurimoto, Eisie. “Fear and Anger: Female versus conflict also signified the domination of Anuak in Male Narratives among the Anuak.” Ed. James the political front from 1991-2003 and both Wendy and Donham Donald. Oxford: James ethnic groups argued to use their own language Curry, 2002:21-238. [8]. Levin, Donald. Greater Ethiopia: the Evolution of as common for curriculum and media of a Multiethnic Society. Chicago: University of instruction in school (Paul, Gach, Jal). Chicago, 1974. Conclusion [9]. Lienlardt, Godfrey. Institute of Social Anthropology: the George Washington University The Gambella regional state spent factional institute for Ethno-graphic Research. fighting and inter-community violence since the Washington: University of Oxford, 1962. late 1980’s between Anuak and Nuer ethnic [10]. Meckleberg, Alexander. “Changing Ethnic group, mainly over the need to control resources Relations: A preliminary investigation of Gambella South Western Ethiopia.” Asian-Africa-Institute such as water and grazing land, the question of Der Universitate Hamburg. N.d.7/7/2011. majority group seats in the parliamentary system [11]. Medhane Taddese. “The Impact of Local Conflict and the question of curriculum and media on regional security.” Pretoria: South Africa, 2009. instruction in school. The sources of conflict [12]. “Politicization of Ethnicity in Gambella: Ethiopia in have been aggravated the destruction of Broader Perspective.” Vol.II. Osaka: National Museum of Ethnology, 1979, 798-815. traditional values of solidarity on the question of [13]. Shumet Sishagne. “The Economic Basis of land use and tenure. Conflict among the Nuer and the Anuak This ultimately led to the breakdown of all communities.” 3rd Ed. Bahir Dar, 1985. previous contacts and mutual agreements that [14]. Tesfay Tafesse. The Migration, Environment and Conflict Nexus Ethiopia: Institute of Ethiopian allow agro-pastoralists limited access, in time of Studies, Addis Ababa, 2007. scarcity and to pasture water. As grazing land became scarcer, the Anuak and Nuer stopped helpful each other. Conflict of Interests The author(s) have not declared any conflict of interests. References

AJHC: https://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 7