Resource Scarcity, Climate Adaptation, and Communal Violence in the Sahel: A Comparative Study of Pastoralist-Farmer Conflicts

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 9, No. 6, June 2018 | pp. 820–828

DOI: 10.46882/2018/GJPCS/090601

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Resource Scarcity, Climate Adaptation, and Communal Violence in the Sahel: A Comparative Study of Pastoralist-Farmer Conflicts

Authors: Amina J. Diallo¹, Marcus T. Vance², Siddharth K. Nair³

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali; ²Center for Development and Emergency Practice, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom; ³School of Global Studies, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract:
This paper examines the escalating communal violence between pastoralist herders and sedentary farmers in the Sahel region, focusing on the intersection of climate change and resource scarcity. Driven by a depletion of arable land and unpredictable rainfall patterns, resource competition has shifted from historical cooperation to protracted violent conflict. Utilizing a comparative case study framework across four border regions in Mali and Niger, we analyze local conflict resolution mechanisms alongside empirical environmental data collected between 2015 and 2017. Our findings indicate a high statistical correlation (r = 0.74) between rapid seasonal vegetative degradation and the frequency of lethal skirmishes. Traditional mediation frameworks are failing due to the proliferation of small arms and the politicization of ethnic identities. Furthermore, statutory land tenure policies frequently marginalize nomadic routes, exacerbating grievances. The study demonstrates that climate adaptation interventions that exclude traditional pastoral leadership yield a 40% higher recurrence of local disputes. We conclude that sustainable peacebuilding in the Sahel requires a hybrid governance approach, legally recognizing transhumance pathways while integrating ecological resource sharing into national security frameworks.

Keywords: Climate Security; Resource Scarcity; Pastoralist-Farmer Conflict; Sahel Region; Conflict Resolution; Land Tenure.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 12, 2018; Revised: April 15, 2018; Accepted: May 03, 2018; Published: June 15, 2018

Citation: Diallo, A. J., Vance, M. T., & Nair, S. K. (2018). Resource Scarcity, Climate Adaptation, and Communal Violence in the Sahel: A Comparative Study of Pastoralist-Farmer Conflicts. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 9(6), 820–828. DOI: 10.46882/2018/GJPCS/090601

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