Effectiveness of the Gadaa System’s Indigenous Peacebuilding Institutions in Addressing Local Disputes among the Liban Macha Oromo

Abstract

The Gadaa system represents one of the African indigenous peacebuilding platforms that look overwhelmed by the western model state institutions. This fact instigates to insight in other than liberal approach, indigenous peacebulding is rigorous at addressing local disputes. Principally, the investigation seeks to contribute to less covered experience of indigenous peace practice among the Liban Macha Oromo as a general objective. Many studies covering the Gadaa system are mainly confined to the southern branch of Oromoland as it is claimed as Gadaa largely remained fully functional in those areas. However, this study is grounded in the rationale that the Gadaa system among the Liban Macha Oromo is also meaningfully considerable and survived to revive as a mechanism of conflict resolution and peacebuilding among the locals and beyond. The study is qualitative in nature and the ethnographic case study design is applied along with the interpretivist paradigm of social constructivism. Data collected through 62 interview respondents, 3 focus group discussions, 3 observations, and document review were thematically analyzed. The findings reveal that in resolving local disputes among the Liban Macha Oromo, the Gadaa system’s indigenous peacebuilding institutions pursue the approaches that conform to the African indigenous knowledge theories. The procedures to resolve micro-level disputes among the locals are oriented to the Oromo’s philosophy of everything great but truth, humanity, and restorative justice. And their effectiveness has to do with strict observance of Safuu (moral excellence, ethical codes), Duudhaa (customs and cultural values), Hooda (moral and spiritual abstinence from evil), and Dhaha-milkii (Oromo’s astrology of prophesy and success). Noteworthy, this paper argues and recommends that to have long lasting means of dispute resolution and peacebuilding, giving serious attention to indigenous socio-political institutions like Gadaa is more generative. And all stakeholders both governmental and non-governmental should enhance their positive role to vitalize this issue of concern. Hence, this empirical record will contribute to the world wide peacebuilding discourses that aspire to empower the local-based approach to peace.