Nigeria: How religious divides worsen conflict during drought
Key takeaways
- Drought is often blamed for Nigeria's farmer-herder violence.
- The WZB Berlin Social Science Center drew on over two decades of data across Nigeria to examine links between drought patterns, conflict incidents, and the religious composition of local communities.
- Sociology professor Ruud Koopmans, who co-authored the study, said the data challenges the perception that climate change is the main driver of violence.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Drought is often blamed for Nigeria's farmer-herder violence. But new research shows clashes rise mainly where Muslim herders meet predominantly Christian communities, turning competition over land into deadly conflict.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Ee SHDisputes between farming communities and nomadic herders center on competition over land and water. However, religious divisions are increasingly exacerbating the problems Image: Olympia De Maismont/AFP/Getty Images Advertisement Across the Sahel region, where many Fulani herders have historically lived, rising temperatures, drought, and desertification have reduced grazing land. Now, pastoralists are increasingly driving their stock beyond traditional ranges and coming into conflict with sedentary farming communities.
The WZB Berlin Social Science Center drew on over two decades of data across Nigeria to examine links between drought patterns, conflict incidents, and the religious composition of local communities.