278 Scarcity and Surfeitless important further from the river. The Alledeghi Plain, for example, is con-
sidered open grazing land for all Afar.Iz7 However, since traditional rules to
restrict resource use have broken down, the Alledeghi Plain is being heavily
o~ergrazed.'~~
Meanwhile, conflict continues between the lssa and Afar in Amibara, and
is expanding northward along the Djibouti road above Gewane town. The
Issa are now dominant in many of the small trading towns along the road.
They have formed alliances with contraband traders from Djibouti who sup-
ply illegally imported industrial goods from Dubai and other areas.lZ9. The
Issa also trade in cattle. Highland peoples from the north are also involved in
trade in towns such as Metahara.I3O The Afar do not engage in trade because
they lack the skills and knowledge to effectively participate in the market,
their population is widespread and diffuse, and because of some cultural pro-
hibitions. The Afar control no trading routes.13'
The growing predominance of the Issa in parts of the basin has caused fear
among the Afar that trade and mercantilism are a precursor to the Issa staking
greater claims to own adjacent lands. This has caused a number of clashes
between the Afar local government and the Issa, who in many cases do not
recognise the Afar's jurisdiction. The tension has resulted in insecurity and low
intensity conflict along the Addis-Djibouti railway and Addis-Asseb road,
including the deaths of several lorry drivers.'32 This has resulted in the closure
of the road on several occasions, bringing the conflict national attention.
Conflict also continues in the southern part of the basin near to Metahara.
The national park remains strongly contentious, as does the large sugar cane
plantation in the area. The core area of the national park has been severely
reduced as grazing and farming encircle the park and go beyond the original
park boundaries. The area surrounding the park is severely degraded. Frequent
clashes between the Afar and the Kerreyu have occurred inside the park itself.
Both groups avoid areas near to the park and the park itself as a result, although
they have excellent grazing areas that were used historically as drought reserves.
During the drought in 1996 and 1997, herders lost many livestock in the
nearby Kerreyu. Highly nutritive seasonal grasses near to the park were unused
owing to the pervasive tension and ongoing conflict. In fact, it is suggested that
the imperial government of Haile Selassie actually constructed the Dinkuku
Pond in the area of the national park to discourage the Kerreyu and the Afar
from grazing in and near to the park. The logic underlying Selassie's strategy
was that the two hostile groups would keep retreating backwards away from
the pond and pastures, to avoid conf~ontation.'~~
Authority for managing the national park remains with the federal gov-
ernment through the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organisation (EWCO),
although most other national parks are under the jurisdiction of regional gov-
ernments. In the case of the Awash National Park, it was felt that the current
Afar government did not have the capacity to address the problems in the