Suri vs. Lim Siow Jin Estate

The Ethiopia government leased land to Malaysian company Lim Siow Jin Estate in the Bench Maji Zone of the SNNPR (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region) region in 2011. However, the 31,000-hectare large plantation overlaps with the land of the Suri people and has had negative effects on their traditional pastoral livelihood.

Indigenous Peoples vs. Gibe III Dam

The Mursi and Nyangatom are two of many pastoralist groups in the SNNPR region of Ethiopia, and surrounding area, who risk losing access to their resources, especially water, because of a series of dams being built along the Omo River. Photo credit: Salini Impregilo

Karayu vs. Land Grabbing in Oromia

Karayu traditionally live in the Fantalle district but many were evicted in 2006 for the creation of the Awash National Park and development projects such as the Metahara Sugar Factory and Upper Awash Agro-industry Enterprise. Karayu are also forbidden access to their only water source, the Awash River. Photo Credit: Flickr

Hamar: Shift to Agro-Pastoralism

Many Hamar living in the SNNPR region are unable to herd cattle due to climate change, drought, and increased sugar operations. As a result, some Hamar are retraining as farmers to survive. Despite farming crops, many Hamar retain traditional ways of life. Whether pastoralism is sustainable may depend on government development. Photo credit: Africa Geographic