Wetland Dynamics and Conflict in the Sudd

Nov 6, 2021 | Charlotta Ruuskanen and Eoghan Darbyshire
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The Sudd wetland is situated alongside the White Nile in South Sudan. The Sudd provides important ecosystem services, including water purification, flood control, carbon sequestration, fish and wildlife habitats, and year-round grazing grounds for livestock owned by the indigenous pastoralist cultures inhabiting the surrounding area.

Research indicates that the competition over natural resources might be a potential cause of conflicts in regions dominated by pastoral cultures. More recently, and thanks to long-lasting armed conflict, the widespread proliferation of arms has led to more violent raiding practices. 

To better understand the nature of pastoralist conflict, data from between 2000 and 2020 from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) was examined as part of this project.

No significant correlations were found between the land cover classification and annual dry-season conflict frequency or fatalities. There was, however, a statistically significant positive correlation between conflict frequency and the mean NDVI of the Sudd. This indicates that in years where biomass is greener, because of better growing conditions, and pasture presumably more nutritious, there has been more conflict