Hadendowa and Fulani: ‘Resourcing’ Identity Politics

Abstract

The linkages between resource conflict and political conflict have been the subject of intense debate during the last two decades or so. The main issue is whether ecological degradation and political conflicts are mutually reinforcing and, if so, why. It is clear that political conflicts that cause massive population mobility and concentration in smaller areas may lead to ecological degradation. It can also be argued that when political conflicts contribute to the dislocation of population, certain areas are freed from agricultural and grazing activities, which may result in environmental regeneration in the evacuated areas. On the other hand, the receiving areas may suffer over-utilisation of resources through the concentration of human and livestock population. Excessive resource use without maintenance and rehabilitation undoubtedly contributes to ecological degradation; there is also the likelihood of conflicts over resources between the migrants and the receiving societies, for instance over access to landed resources and rights over their use.