Ethiopia’s experts should capitalize on the social values of each community and help to attach his/her self with peace and moral values that help us enjoy a peaceful way of living. Though, the nature of violent conflict in the world has changed in recent decades, both in its actual subject matter and in the form of its expression. Efforts are chained to reduce Ethiopia to chaos and divide among various ethnic groups. Because Ethiopians are now well aware of the hidden agenda their enemies are cooked behind.
Some are spreading deep-seated hate against other ethnic groups and religions to provoke and gain their political benefits which are seasonal. One of the most dramatic changes has been the trend away from traditional inter-state conflict (that is, a war between sovereign states) and towards intra-state conflict (that is, one which takes place between factions within an existing state). Whereas most violent conflicts over the course of the twentieth century have been between states, in the 1990s almost all major conflicts around the world have taken place within states. Between 1989 and 1996, for example, 95 of the 101 armed conflicts identified around the world were such internal disputes.
Most of these conflicts were propelled, at least in part, by quests for self-determination or adequate recognition of communal identity rather than by ideology or the conquest of territory. This represents a major shift in the manifestation of human conflict, especially compared to the world wars and major inter-state conflicts fought over the course of this century.
The whole source of our problem is that we are consumed by deep-seated hate against other ethnicities and religion. Humanity became fading out we are witnessing that most of today’s violent conflicts are not the wars between contending states of the past, but take place within existing states. Many are inextricably bound up with concepts of identity, nation and nationalism, and many stem from the competition for resources, recognition and power.
While these conflicts may appear very differently from place to place, they often have, at their base, similar issues of unmet needs, and of the necessity to accommodate the interests of majorities and minorities alike. In my view, despite the many excellent studies on how to build peace in divided societies, there remains a dearth of practical advice for policy-makers on how to design and implement democratic levers that can make peace endure.
Conflict happens in any society. But a great deal of attention has been focused in recent years on how to prevent conflict, and less on finding peaceful methods of conflict management. In particular, there needs to be more attention given to the type of political choices that those negotiating an end to a period of violent conflict have to make to rebuild our country, and how they can build an enduring democracy – the only sustainable form of government – from the ashes of conflict.
These pieces try to meet this need by providing negotiators and policy-makers with detailed information on options for building democracy in post-conflict societies. We should bring together international experts, both academics and practitioners, in many fields – from negotiation techniques to power-sharing formulas, from questions of federalism and autonomy to electoral systems and parliaments – to provide practical, policy-relevant advice.
In my view lessons should draw from the experience of peace settlements and democracy-building from places such as Bosnia, Fiji, Northern Ireland and South Africa to illustrate the many, often unrecognized, options that negotiators can draw upon when attempting to build a nascent democracy.
Since conflicts are life-threatening scenarios that reduce our nation we should refrain from any kind of provocative actions and activities. It is high time to stand in unison and ensure our sovereignty before it goes out of hand at this juncture political parties and academia and religious leaders should draw lessons from Rwanda and other nations and should come up with bold efforts to save many from the grim reality.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
The Ethiopian Herald May 16/2021
