Pastoral Resource Conflict in the Context of Sudano–Sahelian Security Crises: A Critical Review of Research

Publisher: African Security

Author(s): Leif V. Brottem

Date: 2021

Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Causes, Dispute Resolution/Mediation, Governance, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources

This article reviews recent research on pastoral resource conflict in the context of security crises across Sudano–Sahelian West and Central Africa. The goal is to improve understanding of the linkages between resource–related grievances, conflict escalation, and regional outbreaks of violence. The review focuses on factors perceived to play a role in violent conflicts across the region, including climate change, resource scarcity, and the political forces that mediate their relationships with violent conflict. Future research must draw from a wider body of literature to understand the relationship between resource access and drivers of conflict such as exclusion and perceptions of justice.