ABSTRACT
Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms (ICRMs) in Africa demonstrate the efficacy of restorative, community-based approaches, yet they remain understudied, particularly in Ethiopia, where ethnic tensions and governance failures perpetuate instability. Focusing on the Dawuro people of Southwest Ethiopia, this study investigates their sophisticated yet marginalized ICRMs, examining their sociocultural foundations, enforcement mechanisms, and adaptability to contemporary challenges. Employing Indigenous Wholistic Theory and qualitative methodologies, including key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and observations, the research identifies structural and proximate conflict drivers. The study findings reveal that Dawuro’s ICRMs, anchored in elder-mediated councils (Heezzaanaa) and sacred institutions (Geyyuwaa, Zabbaa, and Dubbushaa), prioritize truth, restorative justice, and communal reconciliation. However, systemic exclusion of marginalized groups, urbanization, and state legal encroachments threaten their continuity. The findings of the study have also shown that the indigenous conflict resolution institutions (ICRI) are not inclusive to various sections of society, such as women, youth, and marginalized minorities, who constitute a significant section of society. By centering indigenous epistemologies, this study challenges Western peacebuilding hegemony, advocating for hybrid frameworks that integrate ICRMs into formal governance. The research contributes to global conflict resolution discourse by demonstrating how indigenous knowledge fosters resilient, inclusive peace in pluralistic societies.