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Bridging Borders: Prevention and Conflict Resolution in the Sahel's Agro-Pastoral Communities

13 September 2023

A peacebuilding initiative helped resolve?cross-border conflicts in the project area?among the agro-pastoral communities between the border areas of Mali and Mauritania. These conflicts were significantly reduced with the deployment of the transhumance tracking tool (TTT), the establishment of an early warning system, the creation of a consultation framework for conflict management, and the organization of awareness-raising campaigns.

Through the early warning system, a total of 969 alerts were issued, including 642 alerts related to events that had already occurred and 327 alerts regarding sudden movements of transhumant animals. The majority of these alerts, around 89% were effectively resolved, with village committees involved in resolving 80% of the conflicts.

In the Sahel region, droughts, floods, and changing transhumance corridors are reshaping the dynamics between communities. As these natural disasters become more frequent and intense, traditional agro-pastoral practices are under threat. Pastoral communities, once attuned to the rhythms of the land, now grapple with uncertain migration patterns and dwindling resources.

One of the most pressing issues in the border areas of Mali and Mauritania region is the potential for violent conflicts arising from disputes over land management, access to water, and wood harvesting rights in grazing areas. Competition for these resources has ignited tensions between various communities, threatening to disrupt the peace in the region.?

The problems are exacerbated by the lack of awareness and implementation of pastoral codes in border regions. The pastoral codes, designed to regulate land and resource use, remain unknown and unenforced in these areas and communities on both sides of the border grapple with competing interests and a lack of clear guidelines.

Faced with insecurity, communities have resorted to forming their own self-defense groups to ensure the surveillance of their lands and prevent theft and other crimes that jeopardize their livelihoods. These challenges not only strain relationships among pastoral groups but also worsen the already fragile social fabric of the region.

“There have been changes in the transhumance patterns. Before, herders from Macina, Kala and Nampala in Mali only came here around the rainy season. But over the past two years, we've noticed that they are coming more often, with their animals, for fear of reprisals and insecurity, and that's new,” said the Hakam, Village Chief, from Adel Bagrou village in Mauritania.

In an effort to promote a more stable future for the agro-pastoral communities, the "Conflict Management and Agro-Pastoral Resilience-building on the Mali-Mauritania Border" initiative is a collaborative effort between the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), funded by the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund with a budget of USD 3 million. This joint cross-border project addresses the complex challenges faced by the border regions of Mauritania, specifically in the Wilayas of Hodh el Garbi, Hodh ech Chargui, Assaba, and Guidimakha, as well as in Mali's Regions of Kayes and Koulikoro.

"The most significant conflicts we encounter are related to livestock and land. Last year, we had several incidents, including four major ones linked to transhumance. And we don't have any arrangements for dealing with problems when animals cross the border, as we don't have any counterparts at the border because of security problems. On the border, we must consider the urgent nature of things. We don't need a diagnostic, we need immediate reactions. Many problems are solved through village committees, which are the only ones left in certain areas on the Mali side when the state representatives have left. The village committees are a good thing, they play this role. And we've seen the problems decreased,” said the village chief from Adel Bagrou in Mauritania.
Daouda Sow, President of the Melga/Aourou Committee, Mali said, “When the project started, we had a lot of difficulties, especially with transhumance between Mali and Mauritania. In the past, when a cattle farmer let his animals cross a farmer's field, people would get killed. But now, if there's a problem, they cal. They call us and we go and see the damage and talk to the owner of the field and the farmer.”

The project helped to strengthen cross-border cooperation among local authorities and communities through existing village committees and DIMITRA clubs. IOM supported the establishment and operationalization of 24 village committees responsible for conflict management and collaboration with authorities and partners. In Mali, these committees were established in seven (7) villages, while in Mauritania, 12 villages benefited from this initiative. Members of these village committees underwent training in conflict and crisis management, leadership, and the prevention of violent extremism. Additionally, they were provided with communication equipment which they use to collect information and issue alerts.

To better address challenges, in consultation with the local authorities on both sides of the border, village communities established 168 Dimitra clubs in Mauritania and Mali. FAO facilitated community dialogues through the creation of these Dimitra Clubs, which were nearly evenly distributed between the two countries. These Dimitra clubs serve as a platform to promote gender equality and contribute to the economic and social empowerment of people.

These clubs, involving almost 3,500 people, have enabled communities to promote peacebuilding, access information, and identify priority actions. Club members formed mixed groups of women, men and young people to collaboratively find solutions to issues, such as natural resource management. Through participatory community planning, communities reached agreements on managing 1,800 hectares for fodder crop production, supplementing natural pastures and reducing the risks of agro-pastoral conflicts. Additionally, over 40 radio broadcasts in local languages helped disseminate information about good agricultural practices and the newly established natural resource management codes.

IOM also addressed the needs identified in the participatory community plans organized under the project through developing infrastructure. An improved vaccination park was built to bring vaccines closer to the people. Additionally, two fodder areas equipped with solar panels, drinking troughs, upgraded paths, and stone barriers were created to facilitate access to water and mitigate grazing issues.

The infusion of much-needed infrastructure support also helped with a consistent exchange of ideas, as village committees now have regular means of communication with their cross-border counterparts.

Boubou Sissoko, Mayor of the Commune in Rurale De Djelebou/Aourou said: “My commune is located right on the Mali-Mauritania border, so it's the Karakoro river that separates us. The arrival of the project has helped us a lot with regard to the conflict. We've set up clubs in each village, so if there's a conflict, instead of going to the gendarmerie or the courts, the club meets and settles it.”