Addis Ababa University College of Law & Governance Center for Federal Studies Minority Rights Protection in Oromia National Regional State: A Case Study of the Zay People The Thesis Submitted to Center for Federal Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Masters of Arts (M.A) in Federal Studies By Guta Balcha Supervisor Dr. Seyoum Mesfin Addis Ababa University May, 2016 Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies Center for Federal Studies Minority Rights Protection in Oromia National Regional State: A Case Study of the Zay People By Guta Balcha Approved by Board of Examiners: ______________________________ ____________________________ Advisor Signature/Date _______________________________________________________ Examiner Signature/Date _______________________________________________________ Examiner Signature/Date Table of Contents Pages Acronyms------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------v Acknowledgment---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------vi Abstracts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------vii CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Research Questions ................................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Objective of the Study............................................................................................................. 3 1.4.1 General Objectives ............................................................................................................... 3 1.4.2 Specific Objectives............................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................................ 4 1.6 Research Methodology............................................................................................................ 4 1.7 Limitation of the Study............................................................................................................ 5 1.8 Organization of the Study........................................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER TWO Literature Review---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 2.1 Empirical Literature--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 2.2 The Theoretical and Conceptual Definition of Minorities........................................................ 8 2.3 Types of Minorities under International Human Rights Law................................................. 11 2.3.1 Ethnic Minorities ................................................................................................................. 11 2.3.2 National Minorities .............................................................................................................. 11 2.3.3 Linguistic Minorities............................................................................................................ 12 2.3.4 Religious Minorities............................................................................................................. 13 i 2.3.5 Indigenous peoples............................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Minority Rights and Their Protection Mechanisms................................................................ 15 2.4.1 Minority Rights.................................................................................................................... 15 2.4.2 Types of Minority Rights..................................................................................................... 15 2.4.2.1 Existence/Recognition ...................................................................................................... 15 2.4.2.2Linguistic Rights................................................................................................................ 16 2.4.2.3 Cultural Rights.................................................................................................................. 17 2.4.2.4 Political Participation and Representation Rights............................................................. 18 2.5.1Application of Self-determination to Minority..................................................................... 19 2.5.2.1 Federalism......................................................................................................................... 21 2.5.2.2 Autonomy ......................................................................................................................... 23 2.5.2.2.1 Territorial Autonomy..................................................................................................... 24 2.5.2.2.2 Non- Territorial Autonomy............................................................................................ 24 2.6 Minority Rights Protection under FDRE Constitution ........................................................... 26 2.6.1 General Overview of Minority under FDRE Constitution .................................................. 26 2.6.2 The Scope of Minority Rights in the FDRE Constitution ................................................... 29 2.6.2.1 The Right to Existence...................................................................................................... 29 2.6.2.2The Right to Equality......................................................................................................... 30 2.6.2.3 The Right to Self-Determination ...................................................................................... 31 2.6.2.5 Cultural and Linguistic Rights .......................................................................................... 32 2.6.2.6 Representation................................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER THREE A Description of the Zay------------------------------------------------------------------------------------37 3.1 People-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------37 3.2 Economic Activity of Zay------------------------------------------------------------------------------38 ii 3.3 The Zay: Demography----------------------------------------------------------------------------------39 3.4The Origin of the Zay .............................................................................................................. 40 3.4 Factors of Migration ............................................................................................................... 42 3.4.1 Religious Refuges from Aksum---------------------------------------------------------------------41 3.4.2 The Invasion of Azmach Sebhat--------------------------------------------------------------------42 3.4.3 The Invasion of Zara Yacob-------------------------------------------------------------------------43 3.4.4 Religious Refuges: Ahmad Ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi Invasion ----------------------------------------43 3.5 Language................................................................................................................................. 43 3.6 The Zay Political Tradition..................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER FOUR The Oromia Region Constitution, Minority Rights and the Rights of Zay--------------------------50 4.1 Accommodation of Diversity: The Regional Constitution----------------------------------------50 4.2 The Legal and Practical Protection to the Rights of Ethnic Minorities in Oromia................. 51 4.2.1 Recognition.......................................................................................................................... 51 4.2.2 The Right to Residence........................................................................................................ 52 4.2.3 The Right to Equality and Non-discrimination.................................................................... 52 4.2.4 The Right to Self-Determination ......................................................................................... 53 4.2.4.1The Right to Autonomy ..................................................................................................... 53 4.2.5 Cultural and Language Rights ............................................................................................. 54 4.2.6 Participation and Representation ......................................................................................... 55 4.3The Accommodation of Zay in Oromia Regional State .......................................................... 56 4.4 The Oromia Regional State and the Zay................................................................................