The Sufi-Salafi Interactions in South Wollo, Ethiopia (1991-2017)

This book is all about the Sufi-Salafi interactions in South Wollo of Ethiopia from 1991 to 2017. The Sufi-Salafi competition is primarily triggered by the need to win converts, control organizational resources and disseminate doctrinal preferences. The author also finds that passive tolerance which is expressed in the form of marginalization, xenophobic attitude and emotional attacks impedes peaceful coexistence in the Muslim community of South Wollo. A scrutiny on the causation of the conflict identifies structural, proximate and immediate factors responsible for the Sufi-Salafi conflict. Although impartial intra-religious dialogue and negotiation was variously suggested as tools of resolution, it had been sabotaged by the government and Ahbash. This is evidenced by the interference of the government in the 2012 mejlis election and the eventual ascendancy of Ahbash leadership to the zonal mejlis. The author advises that the effectiveness of intra-religious peace and the transformation of the Sufi-Salafi conflict in South Wollo should be governed by the principles of non-interference, cooperation and peace building.