Development-induced diplacements and resettlements in Ethiopia

Getachew Gebremariam

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of national development projects that cause displacement and resettlement at the global level. Although many state-sponsored development projects are intended to bring economic growth at a national level; they have adversely affected displaced people at local levels. In this light, this research paper critically examines to what extent displacements and resettlements caused by three development projects affect the livelihoods of local people in Ethiopia. The projects are Gilgel Gibe III hydropower dam, Omo-Kuraz sugar development and large-scale land transfers in Gambella region. To examine the case studies, theoretical models of resettlement have been used as tools. The paper discusses how the Ethiopian government overlooks the contributions and roles of pastoral communities, their traditional knowledge and lifestyle in development. As a result, pastoral communities have not been considered and consulted as stakeholders in development; instead they have become victims of involuntary displacement and resettlement programmes that are often accompanied by various forms of human rights violations. The research paper’s major conclusion is that the displacements and resettlements have extensive impacts in damaging the local economy, disrupting the socio-cultural milieu and life style of the local people, increasing vulnerability to food insecurity, threatening ethno-cultural identities and will continue to have negative effects in the future. Key words: Displacement, Resettlement, Development, Gilgel Gibe III, Omo-Kuraz, Gambella

Development-induced diplacements and resettlements in Ethiopia

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