SUMMARY

Dagomba is an ethnic group in north-western Ghana that makes up about 8% of Ghana’s population. The Dagomba is the largest ethnic group in the north-western part of the country. The Dagomba inhabits a traditional kingdom called the Dagbon Kingdom with a history for more than 600 years. The leadership of the Dagomba has traditionally been shared by the two clans; Abudu and Andani, through a kingship rotation system. This system has its roots in Abudu and Andani who were the sons of Ya Naa Yakubu I, a Dagbon king. After his death the kingship was rotated between their descendants. The system worked smoothly until 1948, when it was replaced by a selection committee. Intense disputes arose, with each clan aligning itself with alternate governments as they came to power. The opposition between continued after Ghana gained independence from Britain in 1957.

The tension between the Abudu and Andani clans intensified heavily in 2002 when Yakubu Andani II faced increased disobedience from the rival clan. This resulted in a curfew introduced on 24 March from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The curfew was lifted on 25 March for the celebration of the traditional Bugum festival, which marks the beginning of the Dagbon year. The tension exploded on 27 March when 25 to 40 persons were killed in a shoot-out between the two clans. The shootout started when members of the Abudu clan attacked the king's residence in Yendi and the Andani king was among the deaths.

The non-state conflict between Abudu and Andani is first included in UCDP data in 2002. In late March of that year, clashes between the two groups in Yendi town resulted in at least 25 battle-related deaths.