bred violence in the past and could still pose serious threats to the nascent federation. Whilst the creation of regional states within the Ethiopian Federation has enhanced the political, social, and cultural standing of nations, nationalities and ethnic groups within the federation, it seemed to have also sharpened differences between indigenous and non-indigenous ethnic and national groups within and between regional states. Some of these differences have escalated into violent conflicts. Moreover, the potential for conflict is entrenched in the nature of the federal system of governance. How Ethiopia conforms to international norms and codes, as well as how it develops institutions and processes for the prevention, management and transformation of internal conflicts and conflicts with its neighbours, will enable it to effectively consolidate and sustain its system of federal democratic governance and self-reliant development. 117. Fortunately, the CRM consultations pointed to the fact that the Ethiopian federal system of governance has established a range of formal legal institutions and is drawing upon appropriate traditional institutions and mechanisms at local, regional, and federal levels of governance to address situations of conflict. Many of these institutions - as discussed in CSAR - are mentioned above. As a result, intra-state conflicts, to a large extent, while potentially threatening are being adequately addressed thus far. There can be no relenting on earnest, persistent efforts to manage and transform conflicts. The CRM believes that federal and regional state authorities, as well as the peoples of Ethiopia, would do well to work unceasingly to deepen the legitimacy and effectiveness of those institutions and mechanisms established by the constitution, by proclamations, and by the culture and traditions of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia to address the causes and sources of conflicts. 118. To this end, the CRM believes that the various national and regional state conflict management institutions need to be strengthened. Critical among these are the House of the Federation, the Ministry of Federal Affairs, and the bodies that service them, such as the Council of Constitutional Inquiry and relevant regional state organs. In order to strengthen some of the institutions that are important for conflict management and transformation, new structures and approaches are required. Critical among these are joint border commissions and local governance institutions in cross-border areas. 119. The CRM noted the conspicuous absence of the role and impact of the Human Rights Commission as a conflict management and transformation instrument. There is a glaring absence of an Ombudsman to protect and promote equity and social justice. While it is appreciated that it takes time and resources to establish such new institutions, the appropriate sacrifices need to be made to ensure that they become functional and contribute as they are supposed to in a conflictprone federal democratic experiment. - 74 -