Resource Competition as a Catalyst for Cooperation in Burkina Faso

A recent study reveals that competition for natural resources can lead to cooperation between conflicting groups, as evidenced by the Mossi and Fulbe communities in Burkina Faso. Despite potential tensions, strategic collaboration and adaptation have allowed these groups to thrive together rather than engage in conflict.

The United Nations has revealed that over the past six decades, more than 40% of internal armed conflicts are associated with competition for natural resources. Anticipated issues like climate change, population growth, and heightened consumption are likely to worsen future tensions. Nevertheless, a recent study by Elisabeth Kago Ilboudo Nébié from Arizona State University argues that competition for resources can foster collaboration instead of conflict.

In the paper co-authored by Nébié and Colin Thor West, an anthropology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the authors examine the relationship between the Mossi and Fulbe communities in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Historically, Mossi farmers and Fulbe cattle herders have navigated their coexistence within a landlocked environment, prompting notable shifts due to their interactions over the last 40 years.

The Mossi, who comprise around 52% of the region’s population, are sedentary farmers primarily residing near the Volta River. The Fulbe, a minority group, typically engage in nomadic cattle herding, setting temporary camps on agricultural fringes. The partnership initiated by a Dutch NGO in 1974, which resettled Fulbe herders in proximity to Mossi farmers, has contributed to evolving competition for essential resources like water and arable land.

Despite substantial resource competition caused by this resettlement, conflict between the Fulbe and Mossi has not escalated as anticipated. Factors contributing to this harmonious relationship include severe droughts and famine conditions that preceded the resettlement, improving life quality for the Fulbe in their new environment. This adaptability led to a reduction in conflict through collaboration.

Nébié and West describe a common interaction model between farmers and herders, involving phases of isolation, encroachment, and saturation. Initially, both groups coexist with ample land, but as agricultural expansion decreases available resources, competition heightens, leading to conflict. Conflict typically occurs at the saturation point where resources become critically scarce.

Despite these challenges, cooperation prevailed in Burkina Faso due to introduced collaborative practices. Following their resettlement, the Fulbe were educated on animal rearing advancements, enabling them to use fodder crops rather than Mossi farmland. Enhanced veterinary services and improvements to local water sources also bolstered their survival and productivity.

Though the Fulbe initially resisted abandoning their traditional practices, they gradually adapted to changing resource conditions, leading to healthier animals and greater agricultural sustainability. This transformation promoted a local economy for both groups, yielding mutual benefits from meat and dairy production.

While the case of Burkina Faso may appear regionally specific, Nébié and West assert its implications extend globally. The findings underscore that fostering cooperation is viable, even in resource-limited contexts, by prioritizing negotiation, cultural understanding, and leadership in shared environments.

The analysis of the Mossi-Fulbe relationship in Burkina Faso reveals how intergroup cooperation can emerge from resource competition. Rather than succumbing to conflict, effective collaboration can facilitate mutual adaptation and economic benefits. The insights derived from this study suggest valuable lessons for conflict resolution strategies, highlighting the importance of cultural integration and cooperation in managing shared resources effectively.

Original Source: news.asu.edu