AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Tsion Mesfin Woge for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resource Policy and Management presented on May 18, 2017. Title: Indigenous Approaches to Water Conflict Management: the Anuak and their Approaches to Water Conflict Management Abstract approved: ____________ _________________ Aaron T. Wolf This research paper investigates the water conflict management approaches of the Anuak indigenous people in Gambella, Ethiopia. The paper poses the question do indigenous approaches to water conflict management provide some effective mechanisms that help to resolve conflict? If so, how? In order to provide answers to the research question, the paper will go in depth and investigate; First, how the Anuak indigenous people manage their water resources? Second, how do they resolve conflict arising from the management of shared water resources? Third, how do they assess the effectiveness of those water conflict management process? And, finally, using their effective indigenous methods of conflict management mechanisms, how can they address conflict arising from the expansion of large-scale agricultural investment in the Gambella Regional State? Key words: Water Resources, Indigenous peoples, conflict management, Gambella, Anuak, Saudi Star, National Government ©Copyright by Tsion Mesfin Woge May 18, 2017 All Rights Reserved Indigenous Approaches to Water Conflict Management: the Anuak and their Approaches to Water Conflict Management by Tsion Mesfin Woge A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Presented May 18, 2017 Commencement June 2017 Master of Science thesis of Tsion Mesfin Woge presented on May 18, 2017 APPROVED: Major Professor, representing Water Resource Policy and Management Director of the Water Resources Graduate Program Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Tsion Mesfin Woge, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is a pleasure to thank those people who made this thesis possible. First and foremost I would like to thank my advisor Dr Aaron Wolf for his guidance and constructive comments. I also would like to show my gratitude to Dr. Badege Bishaw and Ms Zaki Shubber for their guidance and support. I am grateful to Dr. Meghna Babbar-Sebens for being my Graduate Council Representative. I owe my deepest gratitude to my father Mesfin Woge, who was there for me whenever I need him most. I would like to say thank you, to all people who participated in the interview sessions. Elders from the Anuak villages, Mr. Nurzefa Shafa and Saudi Star Investment Company Manager, Mr. Bedelu for their warm welcome. I am thankful to Dr. Yacob Arsano, for his constructive comments and support. I would like to thank Dr Marry Santelmann, whom I see her not only as an instructor but also as a mother. Thank you, Dr. Todd Jarvis and Lynette de Silva- Oregon State University, Thank you, Ineke Melis- IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Thank you, Dr. Lou Opiew- Director of Irrigation and Development in Gambella, I am indebted to my colleagues from IHE Delft Institute for Water Education and Oregon State University for supporting me in doing this research. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1. Chapter One: Introduction……………………………………………………………………..1 1.1 Research Problem……………………………………………………………………..1 1.2 Research Scope and Delimitation……………………………………………….….....3 1.3 Research Question………………………………………………………………….....4 1.4 Research Objectives…………………………………………………………………..4 1.5 Research Hypothesis……………………………………………………………….....4 1.6 Research Structure……………………………………………………………………4 2. Chapter Two: Methodology ………………………………………………………………..... 6 2.1 Description of Study Area………………………………………………………......6 2.2 Research Methods…………………………………………………………………...8 2.2.1 Interviews……………………………………………………………….11 2.2.2 Observation…………………………………………………………......15 2.2.3 Legal and Policy Documents…………………………………………...15 2.2.4 Government and Non-Government Documents………………………..15 2.2.5 Media Reports…………………………………………………………..16 2.3 Challenges of Data Collection……………………………………………………16 2.4 Data Analysis…………………………………………………………………......17 3. Chapter Three: Foreign Direct Investment, Land & Water Right in Ethiopia……………....18 3.1 Policy Change: Resemblance to Investment………………………………….....18 3.2 Foreign Direct Investment and Land Rights ……………………………….…...20 3.3 The Process of Land Acquisition………………………………………………..22 3.4 Foreign Direct Investment and Water Related Rules…………………………....24 3.5 Large Scale Agricultural Investment in Gambella Regional State…………...….24 3.6 Saudi Star…………………………………………………………………….......26 4. Chapter Four: Traditional Conflict Management Mechanisms…………………………...…30 4.1The Anuak People: Knowing the History……………………………………......30 4.1.1 Conflict between the Anuak and Nuer ……………………………....31 4.1.2 The Conflict between the Anuak and the Highlanders……………....32 4.2 The Anuak and their Water Resource Management System…………………....33 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 4.2.1 Management of Water as a common Property………….…………34 4.2.2 Management of Water by Individuals…………………………......35 4.2.3 Chain of Command………………………………………………...35 4.3 The Anuak Traditional Conflict Management Mechanisms………………........36 4.3.1 Discussion……………………………………………………........37 4.3.2 Mediation………………………………………………………….38 4.4 Enforcement Mechanisms……………………………………………….….......40 4.5 The Anuak People’s Response to Investment and Investors……………..….....40 5. Chapter Five: Problems Identified …………………………………….……………..……44 5.1 The recent protest in Ethiopia……………………………………………….....44 5.2 Security and Investment………………………………………………………..45 5.3 Policy reform on the process of land Acquisition……………………….……..48 5.4 lack of Coordination between Federal and Regional Government………….....51 6. Chapter Six: Discussion ……………………………………………………………...........54 6.1 The process of managing conflict…………………………………………......54 6.1.1 Who is the Mediator………………………………………….......55 6.1.2 The role of the Mediator……………………………………….....56 6.1.3 Building the process……………………………………………...56 6.1.4 Whole Gathering…………………………………………............59 7. Chapter Seven: Conclusion………………………………………………..……………….63 Bibliography… ………………………………………………………………………...……..65 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Map of Gambella Regional State………………………………………………..................8 2. Saudi Star Project………………………………………………………………................28 3. The Anuak Village in Gambella ………………………………………………................31 4. Coordination between the Kuwarro’s and the King of Anuak …………………………..36 5. The Anuak traditional ceremony …………………………………………………...........39 6. Protestors destroyed Dutch Investment Company ……………………………................47 7. Dangote’s factory attacked and burnt by protestors in Ethiopia ………………………...47 8. Turkish owned company attacked and burnt by protestors in Ethiopia……….................48 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Interview Groups…………………………………………………………………………….14 2. Process of land acquisition in Ethiopia……………………………………………………....23 3. Distribution of districts by number of registered and operating investors………………......25 4. Yield status of low land and up land crop production 2014-2016…………………………..27 5. Federal & Regional government entities involved in the different policy domains………...53 6. Position, interest and value of the Anuak, Saudi Star and the Government………………...60 LIST OF BOXES Box Page 1. The 1995 Ethiopian Constitution………………………………………………….22 2. The United Nation Declaration on the rights of indigenous people……………….50 LIST OF ACRONYMS BTBRAD Boundary and Trans-boundary River Affairs Directorate EAILAA Ethiopian Agricultural Investment Land Administrative Agency EIA Ethiopian Investment Agency EIC Ethiopian Investment Commission EPRDF Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front EWCA Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority GDP Gross Domestic Product GIA Gambella Investment Agencies GLUAEPA Gambella Land Utilization Administration and Environmental GRC Gambella Regional Council GRS Gambella Regional State GSINRB Gambella State Irrigation and Natural Resource Bureau IDSDC Irrigation Development Studies Design and Construction IMF International Monetary Fund LSAI Large Scale Agricultural Investment MEPF Ministry of Environmental Protection and Forestry MOA Ministry of Agriculture MOARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Land Development MOFED Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning MOWE Ministry of Water Irrigation and Energy SAP Structural Adjustment Policies SNNPR Southern Nations Nationalities and People WUPAD Water Utilization Permit and Administrative Directorate LIST OF ETHIOPIAN TERMS Anuak Ethnic group in Gambella Regional State Nuer Ethnic group in Gambella Regional Sate Majanger Ethnic group in Gambella Regional State Komo Ethnic group in Gambella Regional Sate Opo Ethnic group in Gambella Regional State Highlander’s Ethnic group in Gambella Regional State Akobo River in Gambella Regional State Alwero River in Gambella Regional State Agwei River in Gambella Regional State Baro River in Gambella Regional State Gila River in Gambella Regional State Oboth River in Gambella Regional State Pibor River in Gambella Regional State Sobat River in Gambella Regional State Abobo Village in Gambella Regional State Gelesha Village in Gambella Regional State Perbango Village in Gambella Regional State Terkodi Village in Gambella Regional State Pokide Village in Gambella Regional State Kuwarro The name for village headmen Niye The title given