Cross Border Conflict in Gambella Regional State (from 1991 to 2011)

Many Africa countries are experiencing ethnics cross border conflicts which impose great social and economic costs. Different documents illustrated various incidents of cross border fighting between Jikany-Nuer and Lou-Nuer, Nuer and Murle and Anyuak and Murle along the border of Gambella region of Ethiopia. This uncontrolled cross border fighting resulted in socio-economic deterioration, great loss of life and growth displacement of the people. The problem addressed in this research is the relentless ethnic groups' cross border conflict in Gambella Regional State of Ethiopia. The objective of the work is to explain the cross-border conflict around Gambella border and to assess the effectiveness of conflict resolution methods used to build contextualized valid strategy that can solve the problem. The findings showed the cross border conflict in Gambella has no specific root causes rather the communities in the region are targeted by Lou-Nuer and Murle because of same family ties in South Sudan who are fighting with these communities. The data indicated the communities have strong traditional skills, experience and indigenous knowledge that can help resolve this problem.