Farmer–herder conflicts, pastoral marginalisation and corruption: a case study from the inland Niger delta of Mali

Abstract

This study aims to explain a farmer–herder conflict in the inland Niger delta of Mali. We focus on the interests and motivations of the actors involved in the conflict and the rent seeking of the local administration in handling the conflict. Since independence, the customary pastoral leaders (the jowros) have gradually lost power and wealth to the benefit of previously underprivileged farmers (the rimaybé). We argue that this process is mainly the result of national policies and laws giving priority to agricultural development at the expense of pastoralism. The result has been large‐scale conversions of dry season pastures to rice fields. This pastoral marginalisation also results in increased land use conflicts between herders and farmers. In addition, rent seeking by local officials is perpetuating land use conflicts in the area. Hence, officials are benefiting from conflicts, while especially pastoralists, but also farmers, are losing out. The droughts of the 1970s and 1980s, leading to a more rapid encroachment of rice fields on pastures, as well as the power vacuum that emerged in the early days of the decentralisation process, further aggravated land disputes. Finally, we use this case study to call for an inclusion of issues of rent seeking and corruption more centrally in political ecology.

Protected areas and regional development: conflicts and opportunities - presented on the example of the UNESCO biosphere reserve Bliesgau

“…Representatives of agriculture (4,9,10) 3. Companies and other institutions (1,2,5,8) Besides this research framework, a workshop with local and regional stakeholders was organised on January 13th, 2011, in which 12 people from all three sectors participated. During this workshop the key questions of the impact of the UNESCO designation compared to the research results were discussed.…”

“…This can be seen in the denotation of the case study region as Biosphere Bliesgau and in its international designation as a UNESCO biosphere reserve on Mai 26, 2009 (1, 3, 4, 11). Moreover, some of the experts demand an overall concept which takes every pillar of sustainability (ecology, economy and social issues) into consideration (1,2,3,11).…”

“…However, whether this will really happen, they cannot assess. By developing strategies and projects eligible for funding, but also by raising awareness for the need of protection of the region's natural attractiveness, the biosphere reserve can have a positive effect on the ecological situation in Saarland (1,5,8,11,12), although some interviewees identify negative impacts (see table 1). For the agricultural representatives, in particular, the biosphere does not represent anything distinctive from the rest of Saarland (4, 9, 10).…”

“…This is blatant.' (1) Other experts suggest that the management of the biosphere will work better now that there is an experienced leader 4 of the biosphere's administrative body in place. However, in their opinion, the administrative body has problems concerning its self-discovery with regard to the regional actors, as well as with regard to its political orientation (3,4,9,10,11).…”

“…It doesn't work out like this.' (9) In contrast, another expert liked the fact that there are so many actors from different fields in the Bliesgau, but at the same time he opined that it has not been possible to build up a network connected to the biosphere yet (1). Other respondents also believe, that the networking is not sufficient and they demand more involved actors, a targeted distribution of tasks and improved internal communication, both among the LEADER regions and with the population in the Bliesgau (3,5,6,7,11).…”