Cross Border Conflict in Gambella Regional State (from 1991 to 2011): The Traditional Skills, Experiences and Indigenous Knowledge Used by Nuer, Anyuak and Murle Ethnics in Resolving Conflict

Abstract: Many Africans are experiencing ethnics-cross-border-con?icts which impose great social and economic costs. The objective of this article is to identify the impacts of the cross border conflicts in Gambella Regional State and its adjacent States in South Sudan. This study is more of qualitative research type. Both secondary and primary data were collected using questionnaire, interview, focus groups discussion and documents analysis. The study was conducted in Gambella region of Ethiopia and in Jonglei state of South Sudan. The respondents were from affected communities (elders, elites, religious people, women, and youth) of Nuer, Anyuak and Murle, governments’ officials and non-governmental functionaries’ workers. The sample size was 401. The focus group discussions participants were select systematically and the rest informants were taken purposively. The communities have traditional skills, experiences and indigenous knowledge those can help resolve this cross border conflict. The Nuer, the Anyuak and the Murle value the open dialogue as mean to resolve the conflict. The compensation which is actually paid as punishment is also valued by the communities. For the Nuer having a fearful person who is the principal actor (Kuer Kwac, Leopard Skin Chief) in conflict resolution among the Nuer as well as others can be used as an opportunity to incorporate in conflict resolution. The Nyie (king) in Anyuak community can be used to help resolve the communities’ clashes. Though the Murle community has no strong hierarchical authority, the existence of alaan ci meeri (red chief) in Murle community can help resolve the conflict.