| Summary: | AbstractEthiopia is one of the ancient states in the Horn of Africa. It has a long history of statehood and uninterrupted administrative history. The objective of the study was to explore administrative boundary related conflicts and their challenges in Ethiopia since 1991.A qualitative research approach was employed to meet the objectives of the study. Primary and secondary data were collected through document analysis, key informants and in-depth interview tools. A snowball sampling technique was used to get 5 key informants in the 20 administrative centres. For the in-depth interview, purposive sampling was used to get information from chief judges, investors, elders, religious fathers, security officials, university professors, youths, women and members of opposition political parties. A total of 13 in-depth interviews were conducted in each 20 major administrative seats of the country, which were/are used as administrative seats for Governorate Generals and/or Provinces and/or Regions. The study found that since 1991 boundary related conflicts have become rampant throughout the country. Each region has experienced boundary problems against one or more neighboring regions. The existing ethno-linguistic administrative boundaries are divisive factors for the smooth implementations of the federal system, the socio-economic development, and the state building endeavors of the country. The system daunted peoples’ freedom of movement across regions and become a barrier for investment and development. The situation is significantly deteriorating the socio-economic development and state building endeavors of the country. Therefore, the existing legal and institutional gaps must be filled and resolved through national dialogue.
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