environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics

IntroductionTHE Darfur Region lies in the northwestern part of the Sudan, neighbouringLibya, Chad and the Central African Republic. The region includes the statesof North, South and West Darfur. Each state is administratively divided intoseveral localities amounting to nineteen in all three states. Each state is governedby a governor appointed by the president of the Sudan and assisted by a numberof state ministers. Other state governmental structures include the judiciary andthe police. Mahaliyas are governed by commissioners (mutamad) appointed by thegovernor of the state and he is assisted by a local council. The native administrationwhich was abolished in 1970 has been recently revived.The population of Darfur which is largely rural (eighty percent) was estimatedin 1983 at about five million. However, there are indications that the populationhas increased and with increasing mobility due to immigration from neighbouringcountries and displaced people due to deteriorating economic conditions and increasingtribal conflicts. The populations are made of the same forty to fifty majortribes in addition to another fifty smaller groups. The tribes are identified as Arab,who are predominantly pastoralists herding camels in the north and cattle in thesouth, and non–Arab groups (zurqa) who are largely sedentary cultivators of cropsand livestock, semi- nomads.Land in Darfur is divided into tribal domains (hawakir) known as Dars, largely inthe hands of the larger tribes, defined by customary law. This situation, togetherwith pastoralism, entailing seasonal movements crossing tribal Dars and farms ofthe sedentary population, has resulted in conflicts over the pasture resources andhas intensified during the last two decades and has risen to national and internationaldimensions.The physical infrastructure including limited farm roads, railways and power supplyis generally poor, resulting in difficulties in travel, transport of goods andservices.The social services, including water supply, health and education are also generallyinadequate together with shortage of and low capacity staff in health and educationsectors. The states are facing difficulties in undertaking their responsibilitiesin law and order and development activities due to poor material and trainedmanpower resources and the conflict.EcologyExtending from the north to the south, the climate of Darfur varies from the hotarid and semi-arid to the wet semi–tropic areas in the southern part. Rainfall variesfrom zero in arid part and gradually increases southwards reaching 800mm annually86