Farmer–herder conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa: drivers, impacts, and resolution and peacebuilding strategies

Abstract

Abstract Resource scarcity and insecurity due to climate change, coupled with ethnic, religious, and identity politics, have strained peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in West and Central Africa over the last few decades. Violent farmer–herder clashes now pose a significant threat to security and stability in the Sahelian and savannah dryland regions. Despite the large and increasing literature on these conflicts in recent decades, no comprehensive reviews or syntheses of knowledge on these conflicts have been published. We review empirical studies on farmer–herder conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa published from 2000 to 2021, focusing holistically on drivers, impacts, and the opportunities and limits of the main resolution and peacebuilding strategies different actors use to manage the conflicts. Most of the studies focused on Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Mali and mainly covered conflict dynamics, political ecology, agriculture, climate change, conflict management, governance, land tenure, and peacebuilding. The majority were cross-sectional and relied on qualitative data and mixed methods. The reviewed literature shows that main drivers of farmer–herder conflicts are climate-induced environmental factors, land tenure insecurity, resource competition and intergroup conflicts and prejudices. Conflict control and prevention strategies fell along a spectrum of aggressive, through passive, to constructive tactics. The main conflict management strategies used included third-party intervention (mediation and arbitration), litigation, and direct negotiations for damage compensation. Key actors involved in peacebuilding efforts included farmers and herders themselves, community leaders, community-based organizations, police and courts, and informal community groups. Our findings and discussion advance broader understanding of farmer–herder conflicts, establish the opportunities and limits of various resolution approaches, and highlight gaps and directions for relevant future research.