290 Scarcity and SurfeitAt the same time "the support of traditional conflict resolution institutions
through recognition of their importance to conflict prevention and resolution
is essential.175 Though Article 78 (5) of the constitution gives power to the
House of People's Representatives and state councils to establish or give offi-
cial recognition to religious and customary courts to adjudicate disputes, they
are not given legal backing.'16 Indigenous mechanisms need to be better
understood and reviewed in terms of their functionality with particular ref-
erence to their relevance and application at different levels of '~0nflict.l~~
Government and regional level policies to prevent and resolve conflict
have, so far, had minimal impact.178 There needs to be increased 'cross-fer-
tilisation' of method and concept between modern and traditional systems.
Indeed, according to the respondents at a conflict resolution workshop in
Borana, for example, it was stressed that, "in order to be able to resolve the
[current] conflict over land it is ... necessary and essential to restore the
authority of the elders in the zone and encourage and help them to dispense
their customary laws."'79
Advantages of traditional methods for conflict prevention include that they
have the ability to respond to crises quickly, and they can reduce the
resources used for court cases, thereby saving scarce public funds. In addi-
tion they are seen as more accessible, affordable and fair.laO However, they
are poorly understood, not least due to the fact that in some areas tradition-
al methods are hidden from outside obser~ers.'~'
Outside mediators can help to resolve conflicts. However, they must have
a good understanding of the history and changing and complicated dynam-
ics of the conflict, as well as be respected and trusted by all stakeholders.
This is rarely easy. For example, those considered of a respected age among
the Afar and able to act as elders in conflict resolution are older than those
of the Issa, possibly because the Afar tend to live longer than the Issa.le2 As
such, the Afar have little respect for Issa elders, who it is said, can be easily
intimidated by their Afar counterparts.
However, the relationship between the Afar and other pastoral groups is
often more amiable and demonstrates that resource competitions do not
always result in conflict. For example, in the western part of Afar region, it is
observed that "... the Afar and Oromo enjoy a relatively peaceful relationship.
The Oromo not only teach the Afar how to plough but also sometimes work for
them. In addition the Oromo get Afar cattle in exchange for grain".la3 In many
cases, peaceful competition between different natural resource users depends
on risky but tested systems of agreement and negotiation. Local, customary
processes of negotiation and consensus building should be given greater insti-
tutional support and be used as the basis on which to enlarge peace building.
Conflict resolution is now a key undertaking of many intervention agen-
cies. What is needed, suggests Irwin, is to untangle the complex network of
issues underlying resource conflict and c~mpetition.'~~ An initial strategy