Scarcity and surfeit : the ecology of Africa's conflicts

Spilling Blwd over Water? The Case of Ethiopia 277

Table 8: Existing and potential large scale irrigation areas in Awash

/ Lower Valley 1 25600 36900 62503 1

Loc&.on

Upper.. Valley

I I I

I Total 68 800 82 600 151 400 1

Middle Volley

Conflict is ongoing in the Awash River Basin, much of which is inter-ethnic
and inter-clan in nature. Conflict and changes to patterns of resource use
have led to widespread social impacts, including protectionism, stronger clan
affiliation, ill health and mortality, and increasing illitera~y.'~'
As described above, the capture and closure of key resource areas used by
pastoralists is a critical parameter that defines conflict in the basin today.
Commercial interests are favoured over the interests and development needs
of local communities. In addition, growing numbers of highland people have
moved into lowland towns to farm and engage in trade.lZ2 Some pastoralists,
including Afar, rent land to the cultivators to generate income and to purchase
food and other basic commodities. Payment for the use of the land tends to be
in the form of 20-30% of the value of the crop produced.'"
Changes to land use had many unwanted impacts. Pastoral migrations
were widely disrupted, forcing pastoralists to seek alternative ways of aven-
ing risk and sustaining herds. Conflict between neighbouring groups has
intensified and the pressure on remaining resources has increased.
Development of the Awash River Basin has continued unabated in the mean-
time. The Awash River Basin remains the most intensively developed basin
in Ethiopia, although some schemes have fallen into disrepair. The total irri-
gated area is estimated to be 68 800 hectares (see Table 8). accounting for
nearly three-quarters of the total existing irrigation schemes in the country,
with another 82 600 hectaresplanned for expansion.12'
Since the change of government in 1991, and the introduction of neo-lib-
era1 economic policies, the state has embarked on the sale of some assets
including many irrigation schemes. In addition, the government has sup-
ported the return of land within irrigation schemes to select clans. However,
redistribution of land has fuelled greater conflict among the Afar.
A recent survey revealed that resources are the major source of conflict
between Afar and other groups in the Awash River Basin, while territory was
another important source of conflict.'26 Consciousness of clan 'territor)~' is
more intense nearer to the Awash River, whereas exclusive rights to land are

Exisling ha)

23 300

I

New or expansion

area (Iw)

10600

19 900 55 030

Total ha

33 900

35 100