Integrating Urban Political Ecology with Indigenous Peacebuilding Mechanisms between Tulama and Gamo in Addis Ababa Vicinities

Abstract

The Tulama Oromo and Gamo community in Burayu, Ethiopia, are the subjects of this study. It looks at the connection between fast peri-urban urbanisation and indigenous peacebuilding techniques. Besides, the study aims to analyse how capitalist-driven peri-urban expansion erodes indigenous governance systems, transforms socio-ecological relations, and fuels inter-communal conflict. The study's analytical paradigm combines Indigenous Peacebuilding with Urban Political Ecology (UPE). A qualitative comparative case study design based on social constructionism was used in the investigation. In Burayu and Arbaminch, 110 semi-structured interviews, ten focus groups, participant observation, and field notes were used to gather data. Purposive and snowball sampling approaches were used to pick elders, female peace actors, youth representatives, government officials, police personnel, and victims of violence as participants. The results show that the 2018 Burayu violence was greatly exacerbated by rapid peri-urban urbanisation, land commodification, the growth of informal settlements, the fragmentation of government, and socioeconomic marginalisation. The study also shows that, in spite of pressures from modernisation and state-centered governance, indigenous institutions like the Tulama Gadaa system, Jaarsummaa, and Gumaa, as well as the Gamo Dubusha assembly system, Gome cosmology, and Tuge ritual, continue to operate as adaptive socio-ecological governance mechanisms. Following the conflict, these organisations were crucial to societal healing, restorative justice, reconciliation, and the avoidance of retaliatory violence. The study comes to the conclusion that acknowledging and incorporating indigenous peacebuilding organisations as valid socio-ecological governance systems is necessary for sustained peacebuilding in rapidly urbanising peri-urban areas. Therefore, minimizing urban violence and fostering inclusive and long-lasting peace in Ethiopia requires strengthening cooperation between formal state institutions and customary procedures.

Keywords: Urban Political Ecology; Indigenous Peacebuilding; Peri-urban Urbanization; Gadaa System; Dubusha Institution; Socio-ecological Governance; Burayu, Ethiopia