Book Description

Amhara migrants from different parts of the Amhara National Regional State are systmematically traced in this study, as they go through the process of migration, settlement, conflict, displacement, and resettlement. The study is located in the East Wollega Zone in west-central Ethiopia; and is based on primary data collected in field research in 2003 and 2004 based on survey research methods as well as focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The period covered is from the Imperial Era until 2000/2001. The author's perspective is multi-causal and avoids working with one dominant approach. Migration, he shows, has multiple causes including social, economic, political and ecological factors. He carefully applies push/pull theory to organize the various migration factors taking into account the fact that this might over-simplify the analysis. His account of the settlement, adaptation and relations between the Amhara migrants and the local Oromo communities describes how migrants established social bonds with local Oromo communities.Later ethnic and resource-based conflicts arose pitting the Amhara migrants against the local Oromo communities which resulted in thousands of migrants being forced out of the area.More than 12,000 Amhara settlers were displaced. Their relocation and the problems which they encountered are discussed and the book concludes with policy recommendations for future population movements and relocations.