PROTECTION OF MINORITY RIGHTS UNDER ETHIOPIAN FEDERAL ARRANGEMENT᎓ASSESSMENT ON THE PROTECTION SCHEME OF ADAMI TULU AND JIDO KOMBOLCHA WOREDA IN EAST SHOA ZONE, OROMIYA REGINAL STATE, ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Only eight of Ethiopia's more than 76 ethnic groups, including their subgroups, have been granted their own regions by the federal government. The territorial autonomy afforded to ethno-national communities emphasizes the Ethiopian federal system‟s distinct division of territories, despite the diversity among its individual constituents. Within the autonomous area designated for each group, the related ethno-national community possesses full territorial authority and governance. Based on the 2007 census, nearly all ethnic groups are dispersed throughout the region, yet their unique identities have not been acknowledged in the Oromiya constitution. The research primarily aimed to explore the Ethiopian federations and the issue of minority rights within the Adami Tulu and Jido Kombolcha Woreda. This study specifically aimed to identify the prevailing political practices surrounding minority representation, the obstacles minorities encounter in asserting their rights, and to propose strategies for safeguarding those rights. The data was analyzed using a qualitative interpretive approach. To gain perspectives from the target community, the researcher conducted interviews with 32 heads of households, selected through purposive sampling; among these, 11 belonged to the Amhara group, 8 were from Mareko, 7 represented Gurage, and 6 were from the Silte minority groups. Moreover, 3 local experts were interviewed by the researcher. In total, 35 individuals participated in the interviews. For the focus group discussion (FGD), the researcher purposefully selected 10 participants, which included 6 heads of offices from the woreda government and 4 notable members of minority groups. Consequently, a total of 45 individuals participated in the study. The findings indicate that language barriers and discrimination constituted the main challenges faced by the Amhara, Mareko, Gurage, and Silte minorities within the studied region.