Natural Resources and Conflict Management: The Case of Land
Publisher: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Author(s): J.M Lusugga Kironde
Date: 2012
Topics: Conflict Prevention, Land
Countries: Afghanistan, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda
Africa in general and Eastern Africa in particular is the scene of many disputes related to land and natural resources. This is partly a result of the increasing demand on these resources as a result of population growth, but also is a result of the continued depletion of these resources in both quantity and quality due to degradation, overuse and over-harvesting, governance deficits, and external factors such as climate change and commercial pressure.
This paper, commissioned by ECA Sub-regional Office (SRO) is prepared to inform the Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting (AEGM) on “Natural resource management and conflict: the case of land”, to be held in the margins of the inter-governmental Committee of Experts (ICE) on 14-15 February 2012 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The main objective of this paper is to provide (a) a presentation of the diversity of land related conflicts in Eastern Africa, (b) an analysis of underlying causes of conflicts and experiences in conflict resolution and (c), lessons learnt and best practices from the policy and legal responses and links with enhancement of land governance in the region.
The paper is addressed to experts from Eastern African countries, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), representatives of the private sector and involved institutions, to further review and deliberate on the land conflicts in the region. The participants will have an opportunity to further exchange experiences and good practices inland dispute management and land governance.
The meeting will be an opportunity to raise awareness and to disseminate good practices related to land conflict management.
The outcome of the AEGM is to be envisaged as a contribution to the effective implementation of the Declaration on Land issues and challenges, adopted in July 20119 by the AU summit of African Heads of state and Government.