Challenges for the Center of Mali 1. Inner Niger Delta Setting - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Challenges for the Center of Mali

1. Inner Niger Delta

• Setting the stage
• 2. Water Resource Conflicts:
• Inappropriate conflict management
• Intensification of violence
• The rise of inter-community violence
• 3. Development plans related to the Niger river

Conflict-sensitivity and dialogue

• 4. Way forward: Opportunities and challenges
• 5. Conclusion and recommendations

The Inner Niger Delta

Largest wetlands in west Africa, Hub of food production and biodiversity

Provides 15% of the national cereal production

• Provides 80% of the national

fish production

• Is home to 50% of the

national herd

• Shrinking of flooded area:

→ from 41 000 Km2 to less than 10 000 Km2 in 50 years….

• Speed population growth:

→ from half million to over 2 million depending on livelihoods from IND

Drastic increase of water stress resulting in (armed) conflicts between fishermen, farmers, pastoralists

IND: Climate buffer and Epicenter of Conflicts, Why?

4

Water-Resource Conflicts

Competition for access to and management of water resources

• Conflict over Bourgoufields
• Conflict between socio-economic groups
• Ethnic polarization

Water-Resource Conflicts: Inappropriate Conflict Management

Laws and Justice systems

• Overlaps & contradiction: Traditional and modern laws
• Disconnect between people and modern justice system
• Traditional justice lacks power and its legitimacy is

questioned

• Some misbehavior within the defense and security forces

Water-Resource Conflicts: Intensification of violence

Spread of conflict from the north to the center

• Terrorist and Jihadist groups
• Marginalized and young

people are targets

• Exploitation of feelings of

inequality

• Self-proclaimed self-defense

militias

Water-Resource Conflicts: Inter-community violence

De Development t pla plans rela elated d to

• the

the Ni Niger r ri river

Two projects aimed at food and energy security, but conflict driving, require inclusive Dialogue between stakeholders

• Water infrastructures: Fomi

dam

• Large scale irrigation: Office du

Niger

Opportunities created by setting up Unions and Coalitions

• Improved communication between water user groups (farmers, fishermen and

pastoralists): ➢ Peacebuilding pathway forward ➢ better future predictable;

• Improved organizational capacity of communities for better governance:

➢ negotiation capacity increased ➢ Interests of each group considered

The way forward

10

Challenges

• How improving access to credits to scale up bourgouculture (water grass pilot

actions)

• How assuring transparent communication from national policy level to

downstream actors

• Handle insecurity linked to external actors imposing charia

The way forward

Co Conclu nclusions and and Rec ecommendations

How to create more security in this complex situation

• Challenging wetlands ecosystems sustainable management
• Policy and social inclusive dialog on natural resource

management, especially water (gvt, communities, CSO/NGO…)

Thank you!

www.wetlands.org/watershocks