Effort began to resolve the Somali regional and Oromia dispute and political crisis using traditional problem-solving methods and customary negotiations, Ethiopia Observer has learnt. Led by Getahun Hussein, Chairperson of the Public Consultative Forum of Ethiopia on Peace Development and Democracy, the team includes former Ethiopian president Girma Woldeghiorgis, the Addis Ababa University’s Institute of Ethiopian Studies Ahmed Zakarya, scholars, and elders with appreciable religious and academic knowledge.
The seven member’s delegates (excluding former President Girma) were in Jigjiga, Somali regional capital and discussed with the Somali regional president, Abdi Mohammed and clan elders few weeks ago. The administration and the clan leaders welcomed the move. At the same time, they also talked to Oromia region president Lemma Megersa (now former) and the elder committee of the Aba Geda. The two sides showed willingness to engage in arbitration and agreed on the modalities of the negotiation process, on what would be the basis of the initial agenda, with major panel to be held in another region, probably Harar. The date and exact place has to be decided yet because leaders are now preoccupied with the national party issues, according to the sources.
The arbitrary members are well aware of the complexity of their task in a conflict that caused the displacement of one million people and deaths of thousands. Though a common way of life, religion and culture, traditional conflict settlements mechanisms between the Oromo and the Somali, the involvement of armed groups such as Leyu forces in the killings and displacement have made things a way too complicated, it was said. Abdi’s reputation for impulsiveness and bad reputation in the Oromia region would not in a way help either. But this is at the interest of the federal government that would push in way possible to make it happen.