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Feragezagn: Customary Conflict Resolution Mechanism among Gurage Zone in the Case of Meskan Woreda Southern Ethiopia

Kebede Lemu Bekelcha* and Wondu Yasin Said

The major goal of this study was to explore the role of Feregezagn in handling/ settling conflicts in the Meskan bête Gurage. Meskan Communities are found in Gurage Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS). The researcher was conducted in Meskan woreda. Qualitative research methodology was employed in the study for its appropriateness to explore the role of customary institutions in handling/ settling conflicts in the study area and data was collected through the use of interview and focus group discussion (FGD) and case study. The results obtained from the study suggest that Conflicts in Meskan bête Gurage, as in anywhere else, may vary from trivial interpersonal disagreements to a serious dispute which might eventually lead to homicide. The most common conflict issues in Meskan bête Gurage are land and boundary related conflicts, family related conflict, marriage related conflict, alcoholism, and socio-cultural value related conflict, disagreement over the and accidental conflicts and there is values and beliefs systems related to the customary conflict resolution Institutions Meskan, customary institutions have played a great role to solve different local conflicts and for the development of modern institutions. To sum up, Feragezegn customary conflict resolution institutions are costly and time effective in addition to many other benefits provide for the society. Therefore, at this time government courts encourages customary institutions to promote peace and to solve conflicts at the grass root level or at the local level.