A critical analysis of indigenous and modern policing in Ethiopia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether indigenous and modern policing can coexist in Ethiopia. The two case studies dealt with in this research indicate that customary administration which is based on indigenous customary law governs the lives of most communities in Ethiopia. Most of the civil and criminal cases are resolved through these mechanisms, although there are always operational tensions due to some contradictions between the modern and indigenous policing systems when crime is committed in indigenous areas. This is mainly because the modern police system wants to impose its way of resolving crime while the indigenous police system want crime to be solved in the traditional/indigenous manner that have been practiced for centuries. These fundamental differences have created two parallel institutions which are both rooted in providing safety and security to the community. The research also reveals that modern policing in Ethiopia can benefit tremendously from well researched experiences and practices of indigenous policing. This does not imply that indigenous policing system is democratic and all the experiences could be relevant to modern policing, but it simply means that the identification and the sharing of best practices from both sides could lead to mutual benefits of these systems. In its conclusion the research shows that Ethiopia has the potential to develop a unique policing system that reflects its distinctive cultural heritage and that meets the needs of its people. This potential is more likely to be actualized if the country preserves and incorporate the best practices of both these systems and use them as integral part of the Ethiopian modern policing.