I~CHP') ACHPR ! \~ African Commission on ~~.' , Human Rights our Collective Responsibility Human and Peoples' Rights 113. The Respondent State submitted that as the second most populous country in Africa with a rich mosaic of nations, nationalities and peoples who speak more than 80 languages, not only is Ethiopia one of the most diverse countries in the world but also that pastoralism is one of the oldest socio-economic systems in the country. 114. The Respondent State submitted that there are 12-15 million pastoralists who reside on 61% of its landmass majorly in four lowland regions -Afar, Oromiya, Somali, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Regional States (SNNPRS), in Gambella and Benishangul areas. 115. The Respondent State claims that the main livelihood systems of pastoralists include pastoralism, farming, and petty income-earning activities, and that the primary means of subsistence in almost all pastoral. communities. is livestock husbandry in open grazing areas. 116. The Respondent State submitted that the Complainant's submissions provide only a partial glimpse at the rich diversity of the people of the South Omo Zone and their expectation for change and development in their communities. The Respondent State submitted that there are 16 nations, nationalities and peoples in the South Omo Zone seven of which live along the Omo River and are said to be affected by the Gibe III and Kuraz. These are the Bodi, Dassanech, the Hamar, the Kara, the Kwegu, the Mursi and the Nyangatom. 117. On the basis of the background to the seven affected groups of people in the Lower Omo, the Respondent State makes the following submissions. (i) Right to self-determination under Article 20 118. The Respondent State submitted that contrary to the Complainants' assertion that they were denied the right to effectively participate in the decisions to proceed with the Gibe III and the Kuraz, all of the named peoples in the South Omo zone have traditional leaders and are represented by officials in their local districts, in the State Council and the Council of Nationalities of the SNNPR State and in the House of Peoples' Representatives and House of Federation of the federal government. 119. The Respondent State claims that all the representatives of the several pastoral communities of the South Omo Zone in both the State Council and the Cou il An Orr1al1of the African (r~') Union ~;, 24