Sunday 9 December 2018

Proposed New Ethiopian Government Administrative Boundary System for Unified Nation Building

Presented for National Debate

By Engidashet Bunare (Water Engineer) and Shiferaw Lulu (Hydrogeologist)
E-mail: engidashetbh2012@gmail.com, shiferawlulu@gmail.com


November 13,2018
Executive Summary
The objective and scope of the current paper is to review the historical and legal basis of governance system in Ethiopia with a focus on solving the problems of the current border and ethnic conflict between various regional states and ethno-linguistic groups in the country due to demarcating territories based on language and ethnicity and to recommend feasible administrative state boundary in order to alleviate the current ethnic based political and boundary conflicts.
Nation building requires in-depth consideration of its history, culture, geography, economic and social conditions and identification of the factors that tie coherently its people and building on the unifying factors to develop trust, love democracy and the rule of law with equal status and dignity of its people. A nation for the purpose administration can make internal divisions. These divided administrative regions can be autonomous federated or unified territories. Administering / dividing administrative regions along ethnic, color, appearance or along religion lines are the key destabilizing factors in a country. These factors are non-unifying and disintegrating agents for a nation and needs to be replaced with other unifying factors that would enable a nation peaceful development.
A region is essentially a part of the land surface of the earth. In the geographical literature regions are defined in three ways as, uniform, functional and administrative areas. Regionalism is a sub-nationalism and political concept and it is a movement which seeks to politicize the territorial predicaments of its regions with the aim of protecting its regional interest. Generally, regionalism evolves on the basis of some social and cultural characteristics like ethnicity, language, color or culture. Sometimes local leaders use this concept for achieving greater autonomy and local power especially political and economic power.
Despite globalization and modernization, regionalism is widely observed in both developed and developing countries across the world. Sometime regionalism may help in solving some sociopolitical and economic problems at local level, but it is one of the big obstacles in nation building process or national integration.

There are several border definitions generally referring to physical and/or ethnic characteristics. However, there are also boundaries that depend neither on physical nor ethnic characteristics.
These types of boundaries can be classified as artificial boundaries. Unfortunately, this type of boundaries causes many disputes.
The artificial and poorly demarcated borders of many countries were considered the most potent source of conflict and political instability. Political boundaries in the national state may not be permanent, which is subjected to change as a result of internal and external pressure. The fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany is a good example. Obviously, stable and mutually agreed boundaries are a major pre-requisite for a peaceful cooperation between states and/or countries.
In this paper geographic region concept is considered as good alternative for boundary making principles for state administrative boundaries to abolish ethnic radicalization which served as a source of border conflict and political instability in the country. Geographic region concept in conjunction with hydrologic boundaries / river basin boundaries for administrative boundaries considered to serve as a natural / physical boundary that can serve irrespective of ethnic background to respect both people’s diversity and nationality in the country.
The ethnic based politics and administration resulted in hatred and massive conflicts which is one of its kind in Ethiopian history. It has to be taken that the past 27 years was an experimental year for Ethiopians to learn from ethnicity. Although, it is not advisable to experiment on our self, it has already happened we cannot change it. There is a saying in Amharic;
“ሞኝ በራሱ ይማራል፤ “The foolish experiment on himself
ብልጥ ግን ከሌላው ይማራል፡፡ ” The wise learn from the other”
However, still it is not late to learn from the mistakes and to take corrective measure. From Ethiopian experiment it is well understood that ethnic based administration is one of the main stumbling block for the people of Ethiopia. Thus there should be a way out that can bring unity, prosperity and integrity among the Ethiopian people. One of the way out would be basing the administration on non-ethnic based criteria. The main aim of this paper is to present one way out for discussion and debate among Ethiopian people for their better future. There may be other proposals from any other source. But we think this proposal is one of the best proposals and we believe it would be acceptable by the majority of Ethiopians.
The current constitution declared that sovereignty lays in ‘nation, nationality and people of Ethiopia’. The Ethiopian federal arrangement accepts ethnic identity as a genuine form of state arrangement and base for organizing administrative organs.
Accordingly, the “National/ Regional self- Governments Establishment proclamation No 7/1992 was promulgated” with a view to giving effect to the right of Nations, Nationalities and peoples to self-determination.
The nine National Regional Self-governments, which were established during the transitional period, are incorporated in to the new Constitution and renamed regions that make up the Ethiopian Federation (Art. 46 (1)). These regions are:1) the Region of Tigray, 2) the Region of Afar, 3) the Region of Amhara, 4) the Region of Oromia, 5) the Region of Somalia, 6) the Region of Benshangul-Gumuz, 7) the Region of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and peoples, 8) the Region of Gambela Peoples, 9) the Region of Harari People (Art. 47, (1), (1-9).
Such arrangement created the prevailing negative impact, .i.e. ethnic based region/state conflict between: Oromo and Somali; Oromo and Amhara; Oromo and Southern Nation Nationalities; Benshangul-Gumuz and Amhara, Tigray and Amhara, etc., Further, the impact prevailed within the same region, i.e. conflict between: Sidama and Wolayita; Gurage and Kebena.We have to use history and past events as a learning tool to improve our future. Neglecting history and the true binding agent between Ethiopian people has led to the current language-ethnic based states administrative boundaries related conflicts.
In order to keep the coherence of Ethiopian people, to plan for development and implement Ethiopian people resources, to advance in technology, for allocation and prioritization of projects and programs without conflict of interest, requires paradigm shift from the current ethno-language based states administration system. Such action is required in order to pave the way and to address interests of the community equitably without ethnic conflict in harmony with securing national interest.
The current ethnic based states administrative boundaries and inequitable and insecure political system will not bring long lasting sustainable development, enabling environment for investment and free social movement in the country.We believe that ethnic based political sickness cannot be resolved using the same medicine, i.e., ethnic based politics, which has already adapted the bacteria. Our main sickness in the past 40 years was the Marxist based ethnic-politics which was extraordinarily implemented and that developed into pseudo-apartheid thinking. We have to start to think out of the ethnic box and try to see other feasible options which would shape our ideas and the ideas of the coming generation towards democracy and prosperous nation based on the rule of law and dignity of its people.
As history teaches us, except the past 27 years, Ethiopia has never been administered based on ethno-language administrative system. The administrative system in history included both political and geographic/physical boundaries. It was based on the power of nobilities to include as much territory in their jurisdiction and geographic or physical boundaries suitable to defend their territories.
The modern history before the ethno-language federalism indicates that the administrative regions combined historical events, physical and geographical boundaries. Ethno-language has never been criteria. Each administrative region has included a number of ethno-language societies.To get rid of this deeply entrenched ethnic based state system and to preserve Ethiopia from fracturing across Kilil lines and ultimately disintegrate into several ungovernable mini states; we have to change the States system and redrawing viable administrative states/provinces that contribute to minimize divisiveness, and remove the negative impact of the ethno-Kilil / regional system.
Hence, for avoiding mistrust between different ethnicized regions, ethnic conflict and for enhancing development and integration of the Ethiopian people we believe the best model would be the one based on hydrological physical region. Ethiopia is endowed with great natural gift. This great natural gift of Ethiopia is that, the county has distinct hydrological regions that can be best used for administrative purpose.
In order to alleviate the current ethnic based states administrative boundaries and related conflicts, we recommend/propose alternative solution to use the administrative regional states system based on river basin hydrological boundary in changing the Ethiopian government state structure and political divisions of the country. Such state boundary arrangement could also help smooth development intervention i.e. planning, implementing and managing the water and other natural resources sustainably without conflicts of resources allocation and prioritization of project and programs. Such set up will pave the ways to address community of interest equitably without ethnic conflict based on impartial system in harmony with national interest and to address the need of the present society without compromising the needs of the future generation.Therefore, we have recommended/proposed the following eight river basin states for better development/ civilization, and greatness of the nation as to better facilitate national cohesion:

1. Abay basin state;
2. Awash, Ayisha and Denakil basins state;
3. Baro-Akobo basin state;
4. Genele-Dawa basin state;
5. Tekeze and Mereb basins state;
6. Wabi-shebele and the Ogaden basins state;
7. Omo-Ghibe basin state; and
8. Rift valley Lakes basin state;

Figure 1. The Hydrologic basins of Ethiopia

Moreover, the administrative boundaries and hydrological units that coincide/ falling within the same basin boundary will create an appropriate units for implementation of integrated river basin master plan. It will also help for developmental strategy of the basin states to disaggregate sub basins, zones, etc., as required. Both basin State administrations and River Basin Organizations will be managed on the basis of a hydrological unit.
The national all river basins Federal Government will serve in addressing the nation interest to make balance on resource deficit and resource abundant basins and follow the implementation as per the national development plan. Such basin states arrangement avoids barriers and challenges related to ethnicity and creates conducive environment for political and economic commitment rather than ethnic commitment.
History tells us that Ethiopia was one of the founding members and major role player during the establishment of Organization for African Unity (OAU). Similarly, the idea of river basin demarcation/delineation for administrative regional state boundaries will contribute to other African countries having similar problems and will serve to play a leading role in regional economic integration for AU Agenda 2063 establishment for unity, integration, and free movement of people in Horn Africa.
Change can be painful and is often resisted as it makes people feel insecure even if they understand the need. Often good laws or revised procedures can fail if they are not understood or accepted by officials or citizens.
While each country must decide how to enact reform—depending on its current situation and what it wants to achieve in the future, experience collected in the IWRM provides some basic lessons:
 Reforms should be done in a coherent and integrative way and suit the broader social and political policies of the country,
 Raising awareness, sharing information and meaningful participatory debate are key elements of any reform process, and
 Water governance reforms must not be limited to the water sector, but must take into account other sectors that impact and are impacted by water decision-making.
The proposed river basin states besides facilitating national cohesion it will have the following benefits for the country: The problem related with diversity and unity will be resolved,
 Both diversity and nationality will be respected and ethnic based conflict will be resolved,
 Ethnic based political parties will be discouraged,
 All the right of citizens’ will be respected in looking employment, investment and other requirements in the country without ethnic barrier and geographic boundaries,
 Potential conflict with respect to water allocation and prioritization of projects within the basin will be managed,
 The investment security will be enhanced and improved,
 maximize the economic and social welfare,
 Agro-climatic development zones can be established
 Sustainability of development and attention for national interest will be guaranteed,
 Strategy for National development plan, regional plan and integrated water resources development plan will be managed in harmony without challenge and any adverse impact for upstream and downstream users within the basin,
 Duplication of effort will be managed and harmonized program will be implemented and resource allocation and utilization efficiency will be improved,
 Along with administration, appropriate river basin organizations can be established for planned development and management of a river basin as a whole, wherever necessary.
 It will pave a way for AU agenda 2063 regional social and economic integration with neighboring countries.
The Ethiopian federal arrangement accepts ethnic identity as a genuine form of state arrangement and base for organizing administrative organs. However, this administrative arrangement was not based on the History of Ethiopia, natural and physical boundaries and on the unifying factors of the people of Ethiopia. As a result it has created continued conflict between people.
The current proposal for “New Ethiopian Government Administrative Boundary System for Unified Nation Building” emerged from long standing concern of the country fragile political and administrative situation. It has emerged from an in depth evaluation of the history of Ethiopia, reasons and factors of conflicts in the current political and administrative system. This is a proposal for the people of Ethiopia to debate on it for better future administrative divisions in line with current change. We believe that only commenting on past mistakes does not bring a better future. A better future can be created by learning from the past and bringing a better idea that can hold true for the future.
The analysis and recommendations are based on the review of relevant constitution, government administration system and Integrated River Basin Management. A hydrological physical boundary includes different people, water, mineral, plant and animal, etc., resources affected by hydrological cycles within it. It is the most suitable physical boundary to develop, manage equitably the resources for the society leaving within this physical boundary and beyond. A hydrological boundary does not fit into ethno-language boundary and would help to minimize the greedy motive of ethno-linguistic politicians to use ethnicity for propagation of hatred along ethno-language boundaries to attain power.
Furthermore, Ethiopia has historical, social, economic, political, cultural, religious, moral/ethical, and legal values that are key agent for unifying the Ethiopian Empire. Thus, we have to genuinely work on the common national historical, social, economic, political, cultural, religious, moral/ethical, and legal values in order to pave the way for nation building and for future sustainable and safe development by giving emphasis for diversity and unity. In addition, we have to carry out national reconciliation events/program to conclude once and for all past mistake agenda.
Based on common historical, social, economic, political, cultural, religious, moral/ethical, and legal values we have to establish institutions that are responsible and accountable to the role assigned to them. To review the legal system and all sorts of the legal instruments and the administrative issues it requires reviewing the relevant parts of the constitution, in order to pave the way for feasible justices and administration. All development sectors and others need to review their policies and strategies in line with the modified legal instruments.
Ethiopian Kings and their descendants can serve in unifying and integrating the Ethiopian people. Thus we recommend a government system to be established to recognize the descendants of these kings to play their role as their ancestors to work towards unity and integrity of the Ethiopian people.Finally, we propose political parties to organize based on only ideas not on ethnic liberation front. Organizing party along ethnic, religion or language lines is the most dangerous that would lead the country into chaos and divided and ungovernable mini states in the horn of Africa.

May God Bless Ethiopia, and give wisdom to the people of Ethiopia!!

Full content of the paper is available HERE


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