2 72 Scarcity and Surfeit
have historically reflected the priorities of central governments or select
commercial and political interests, while the needs and aspirations of the
Afar people have been chiefly disrega~ded."~~Nicol et a1 further claim that:
"... under both Haile Selassie and the Dergue, maintenance of power
and authority was equated with the appropriation of resources for the
centre and conversely, with denial of access to peripheral communities.
In pastoral areas such as the Afar state, state capture and exploitation
of land adjoining the Awash has, [as a result,] left a legacy of resent-
ment which directly impacts on resource management in the region. "91Bryden describes the Afar region and Awash Valley as a fractured political
landscape reflecting clan and regional differences and a lack of relation
between governors and many of the inhabitant^?^ In 1997, the total popula-
tion of the Afar region (all groups) was estimated to be 1.1 million. The Afar
are the largest pastoral group in the valley and inhabit the entire basin from
Awash station up to Djibouti's border. Traditionally, they have practised tran-
sbumant migration between dry and wet season pastures within a radius of
approximately 50 kil~rnetres.~~ However, the Somali Issa have expanded
westwards towards the Awash Valley over the last 50 years, partly due to the
fact that agricultural production has increased significantly along the banks
of the Wabe Shebelle River, upon which the Issa depend for pasture and
water supplies?* Expanding agricultural production has resulted in a restric-
tion of movement for all pastoral groups, including smaller groupings of
Kerreyu, Jille, Arsi, Ittu and Arg~ba?~
The current situation in the valley is the direct result of past government
policies. Though the region is historically marginal compared to the rest of
Ethiopia, the government attempted to develop the region in the 19505, chan-
nelling substantial investments into the valley, and established large state
farms in the valley to produce mainly cotton and sugar cane. Commercial agri-
cultural production was introduced with little concern for those already inhab-
iting the area - primarily pastoralists - who were evicted from their lands.
Military force was used to protect state investments in commercial agriculture.
Armed conflict ensued. Many of the developments in the valley involved
investment by international companies such as the Dutch HVA Sugar Cane
Estates. The government of Italy supported the construction of the Koka Dam.
These projects went ahead despite recognition that they would undermine
pastoralist livelihoods, particularly Afar livelihood systems.96 Table 6 sum-
marises the larger evictions and displacements over time in the Afar Valley.
The Awash Valley Authority (AVA) was established in 1962 as an autonomous
public authority with the responsibility to coordinate and administer the devel-
opment of natural resources in the valley, and particularly those in the upper