2019 Chapters (Layout Features)

Historic Violence and Contemporary Resistance in the Ogaden-Somali Region: A Youth Perspective

Ali, Juweria

Both the current political and humanitarian climate inside the Ogaden is dire. Access to safe drinking water, education and basic healthcare is extremely limited. The region is largely dependent on agriculture as its main source of economic stimulus, but land rights issues have been the cause of much tension between the people and the local and national governments. Under Ethiopian rule, the population of the Ogaden region has been subjected to economic and political discrimination, leading to an appalling standard of living in the region, and a lack of direct political representation. The military forces continue to commit grave human rights abuses, and the state perpetuates crimes that violate the “laws of war,” according to Human Rights Watch. Moreover, the discovery of natural resources in the Ogaden, most notably natural gas, has subjected communities living near exploration sites to continuous displacement and violence.