Farmer-herder conflict in sub-Saharan Africa?

Research report
, 106 pages
PDF (3.01 MB)
10208IIED.pdf
Language:
English, Français
Published: October 2020
Publisher(s):
Area(s):
ISBN: 9781784318284
Product code:10208IIED

This report responds to heightened concerns over rising levels of farmer-herder conflict across a wide band of semi-arid Africa. We assess the quantitative evidence behind this general impression and review the explanations in the scientific literature, in the light of known issues with long-standing attitudes towards pastoralism and mobile populations.

Looking at the data available, we find that total levels of all forms of violence have been rising in the last ten years — especially in some countries in West and Central Africa. However, there is no evidence that incidents associated with farming and herding, or more generally incidents involving pastoralist populations, have grown at a faster rate than all other forms of violence. We show that looking at the increasing violence through the lens of ‘farmer-herder’ conflict is overly simplistic, and makes assumption about causality which have no foundation. We then identify examples of constructive engagement with the phenomenon, to map out pathways to more peaceful outcomes, and conclude with a set of recommendations for establishing fairer forms of governance, strengthening local institutions, and managing competition over land.

Cite this publication

Krätli, S. and Toulmin, C. (2020). Farmer-herder conflict in sub-Saharan Africa? . IIED, London.
Available at https://www.iied.org/10208iied