Sierra Leone: Conflict Between Rice Farmers and Cattle Herdsmen in the Northern Province

Feb 26, 2015 | Concord Times
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Due to its geographical proximity to Guinea and as a result of vast savanna landscape, the Northern Province attracts nomadic Fullah herdsmen. Almost all five districts within the province host nomadic Fullahs to the annoyance of local rice farmers who on several occasions have clashed with the nomads over grazing/farming land.

Quite recently in Kamakwie, a 17-year-old boy was shot dead by a nomadic Fullah in retaliation of his cattle being attacked and killed by local rice farmers.

Few years back, some residents at Gaumba village, very close to Kalangba in the Gbendembu-Ngowahun Chiefdom, burnt to ground an entire settlement of nomadic Fullahs. Many farmers were arrested and imprisoned in the regional capital Makeni, although they were later released.

The locals are opposed to the settlement of Fullahs simply because they are aggrieved that their rice farming is being disturbed by cattle owned by the nomads.