Tensions high between the Borena Community and Gov’t

The efforts of the government including Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalgn to resolve its conflict with the Borena elders have been unsuccessful. The problem started after the government began to resettle Geri Communities of the Somali region and the residents of Borena Zone, South Ethiopia, have refused to cooperate with the government on any matter including the resettlement program.

Just before the recent conflict of the two communities that took the lives of over 50 people from both communities, the Administrator of the Zone Kanu Jilo had told the residents of the Zone that the government had planned to resettle the Geri in Boerna Zone. The government went on with plan and made some administrative changes in the Zone by replacing officials of the Zone with new officials that came from the Oromia region.  As the Bornea community refused to accept the new appointments, the government stalled its resettlement plan and in the mean time, the two communities have mediated and resolved their differences by themselves. The government that did not seem to be pleased with what has happened, arrested over 18 top officials of the Zone including the Zonal Administrator and Police Head for “inciting clan conflicts”.

In the middle of the openings and disagreements, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) got the opportunity to come back in the Zone and carry out attacks. The Zone has been wrecked with conflicts.

Last Friday, the Aba Geda of the Borena Community, Guya Geba and 10 other elders met with different officials of the government in Addis Abeba including the Prime Minister. They urged the government that the detained officials should be released first for proper negotiations to kick off. The government began to soften its position.

The government last week promised the elders that it will first release the main officials of the Zone and the rest will be released within 14 days once the Court process is completed.  The Borena communities refused to accept the government’s new conditions and urged that they all be released together. The elders have held another discussion with the Justice Minister. The outcomes of the discussion are not yet known.

ESAT’s efforts to speak with the officials of the Zone were unsuccessful.