Grassroots Peacebuilding: Lessons from the Siinqee Institution of Oromo Women

The prevailing discourse in both research and practice suggests that the significant involvement of women is the missing ingredient on peace tables. This review paper is aimed at describing the roles of siinqee institution of the Oromo women of Ethiopia in peacebuilding at the grassroots level and the challenges they have been facing. Siinqee institution plays a crucial role in peacebuilding by acting as a peace mission, agent of cease-fire, check and balance, guardian of women’s rights, and mediator of not only man to man but also the “sky” to the earth. However, despite its contributions to peacebuilding, the institution has faced and continues to face challenges from political oppression, religion, and modernization projects.