SUMMARY

Both the Gabra and the Guji inhabit the Borena zone in Oromiya state in southern Ethiopia and intermittent, small-scale fighting between the groups has a long history.

In 2005 the conflict between the two groups turned more violent as deadly clashes took place. One of the reasons cited by analysts is the struggle for land. In 2002 the Borena zone was split in two and a separate Guji zone created. While the two zones are mainly inhabited by the groups that gave them their names, there are Guji, Gabra, Borana, and other groups in both zones. Analysts have argued that one of the reasons behind the eruption of violent clashes was rumors circulating that the Guji had requested the drawing of another Guji zone. This caused much fear and anger within the Gabra community and served to strain the relationship between the two groups. Another oftentimes cited reason for the fighting is cattle rustling.

The non-state conflict between the Gabra and the Guji is first included in UCDP data in 2005. Clashes erupted in early April of that year, but intervention from the army prevented it from escalating at that time. However, by the end of the month the fighting resumed, pushing the death toll over the 25 battle-related death threshold. Even though the intensity of the conflict soon decreased, over 40 000 people were displaced as a consequence of it.