Self-Identification of Minorities and Quest for Right to Identity Recognition and Self-Administration: The Case of Kemant People in Ethiopia

Bayeh, Addisalem (2014) Self-Identification of Minorities and Quest for Right to Identity Recognition and Self-Administration: The Case of Kemant People in Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

The Kemant people in Ethiopia have claimed the right of identity recognition and self administration since the 1990s. However, they have not yet got positive response from the Ethiopian government by arguing that they are already assimilated and lost the distinct characteristics which make them unique from the other ethnic groups, especially from the Amhara. Due to that the concerned bodies see the quest of kemant people‟s identity recognition and self-administration as fabricated by few elites who have another aim other than question of identity. The main purpose of this study is to examine the self-identification of Kemant people and its claim for the right to recognition and self-administration from the perspective of international minority right law and domestic legal order. The researcher used qualitative research approach. To collect research data, the researcher had employed in-depth interview with key informant, focus group discussions, and observation and documentary data collection techniques. The collected data would be analyzed using descriptive method of research. The analysis of the study indicated that substantial number of Kemant people have supported the quest of right to have recognition as distinct ethno-linguistic group and to have self-administration. The 2007 national population and housing census of Ethiopia has contributed a lot in broadening the claim for recognition and self-rule into majority of Kemant people. This is because, it is officially denied and omitted the name of „Kemant‟ from the list of nations, nationalities of Ethiopia and substitute it by „others‟. In relation to this the willingness of Kemant people to preserve their distinct characteristics indicated more of their primordial attachments for their ethnic identity and historical ancestor. But their support in the process of struggling to develop, preserve their language, culture and identity also mixed with the theory of constructive and instrumentalist point of view. Finally, the study recommended that since the existence of Kemant people is factual they should have got right to identity recognition and political representation rights all at local, regional and federal government, particularly in the seat of house of federation as per article 61 sub article two of the Ethiopian Constitution. However, the claim of Kemant People to have self-administration is debatable due to unresolved dispute on the contiguousness of their territories.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Tim Khabala
Date Deposited:	24 May 2018 14:29
Last Modified:	24 May 2018 14:29
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4046

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