Water conflict in africa pdf

Unlocking the economic dimension of peacebuilding in africa sylvester bongani maphosa the causal relationship between natural resource endowment and the outbreak of violent conflict is complex. Water conflict in the middle east and north africa mena primarily deals with three major river basins. Water issues in the horn of africa society for conservation. Water and conflict incorporating peacebuilding into water development jason gehrig with mark m. North africa was a crucial combat zone during both wars. In africa the problem emerges and interacts with political, social, economic and. It includes scenarios as diverse as the peaceful resolution of an intercommunal dispute over access to a particular water source to mitigating the effects of armed conflict on water quality, infrastructure, and institutions in urban environments. Community involvement in natural resources management in africa regional overviews 3.

Jul 17, 2017 more than 1,400 new dams or water diversion projects are planned or already under construction, fueling the potential for increased water conflict between some countries. Indigenous conflict resolution in africa by birgit brockutne university of oslo a draft presented to the weekend seminar on indigenous solutions to conflicts held at the university of oslo, institute for educational research 23 24 of february 2001. Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for integrated water resources management 1 introduction 1. Addressing an urgent security issue papers for the interaction council, 20112012 edited by harriet bigas with tim morris, bob sandford and zafar adeel. Pdf water scarcity and international conflict in africa. Jun 10, 2011 africa water scarcity root of darfur conflict. Water is an issue that relates to all aspects of human development in africa, including health, agriculture, education, economics, and even peace and stability. The objective of this paper is the analysis of water conflict and cooperation and. Nelson mandela millions of people around the world do not have enough water to. The largescale purchasing of land concessions in africa and elsewhere are the biggest current examples of this. So if africa has to put the falling apart together, her original values must be re. With fees and laws, india rushes to save vanishing groundwater. Africas susceptibility to potential waterinduced conflict can be separated into four regions.

Subsaharan africa suffers from greater levels of water stress than many other regions in the world. The water demands of agribusiness conflict with other users of water, including local farmers. Water brief 3 water and conflict events, trends, and analysis 20112012 peter h. One major challenge is the ability for both rural and urban africans to access a clean water supply. The climate change, the insufficient water management and overpopulation have. Water conflict in the middle east and north africa primarily deals with three major river basins.

The dumping of industrial waste into water ways, unregulated agrochemicals, and oil spills have been common, and have led to the pollution of inland water resources that will likely last for generations. Water stress in subsaharan africa council on foreign. Water as a trigger or root cause of conflict, where there is a dispute over the control of water or water systems or where economic or physical access to water, or scarcity of water, triggers violence. The conflict that led to the crisis arose from tensions between nomadic farming groups who were competing for water and grazing. Indeed water is already a catalyst for regional conflict. Economic growth in africa has been fueled by the exploitation of natural resources, and this had led to water pollution and an increased demand for water resources 3. Water conflict and cooperation in southern africa wiley online. The water resources of southern africa have featured centrally in the global literature on water, conflict and cooperation.

The risk of conflict is aggravated in the middle east and north africa mena region, where rapid population growth is coupled with an arid climate population action int. The perception of water as a human right and a common public and environmental good is often opposed by the view of water as a commodity that needs to be priced to ensure efficient and sustainable use. It identifies poverty as a threat in subsaharan african countries that may have effect. If one includes other uses of water, such as agriculture, industry, and energy production, the total annual average requirement of water per person is cubic meters. Water conflict on the local, national, international, and global levels. Sep 20, 2015 subsaharan africa is the home to hundreds of millions of people who suffer from water scarcity issues 2. When water is scarce, or access to water is constrained for political or ideological reasons, conflict can result. Running through egypt, ethiopia, and sudan, the niles water has the potential to spark conflict and unrest. Conflict land and water food and agriculture organization.

Climate change and natural resources conflicts in africa. What is also true is that more than half of the nations in africa have been affected by conflicts that have led to the death of many individuals, huge financial burden to the economy, massive displacements, and hindrances to the development of african countries. The main conflicts in africa during the next 25 years could be over that most precious of commodities water, as countries fight for access to scarce resources. Countries are meeting increasing water demand by building reservoirs and by diverting water from one area to another. Thus, water resource conflicts can erupt despite the existence of the protocol. Global hotspots for potential water conflict identified. Earlier crude oil was regarded as the black gold, but nowadays, water is the blue gold. Of the 50 countries that make up subsaharan africa, only 19 are predicted to meet the goal at this time. Gleick and matthew heberger violence over freshwater has a long and distressing history. Different conceptualisations of water can and have led to conflict. As director of cmm, i am pleased to introduce the water and conflict toolkit and. Yet, from a historical and global perspective, africa has been no more prone to violent con. Rural and urban water issues in africa by lori lewis africa faces huge challenges with multiple issues that adversely affect public health.

Colonial production, extraverted and coercive as it already was, was ruthlessly reorganized to produce record amounts of primary agricultural and mineral commodities for the imperial armies and economies. Water scarcity and international conflict in africa. Water stress in subsaharan africa council on foreign relations. These studies, conducted by scholars from within and beyond the region, have taken their cues from trends in scholarship. The term water conflict is used to describe tensions or disputes between states, countries, or people groups surrounding the utilization, consumption, or control of water resources. Water is vital to life and an incredibly essential resource. It has been experienced with a number of armed conflicts, ethnolinguistic disputes, religious radicalism where in it catches the attention of most developed nations including us for their strategic interest over the region. Community management of natural resources in africa. Natural resources and conflict africa institute of south. She holds a bachelor of laws degree from the university of daressalaam. Each of the countries in the horn ethiopia, somalia, eritrea, and djibouti, has water scarcity issues. Not only nations but provinces and communities will need. However, disputes over water, whether scarce or abundant, do not always result in violence. The sahara desert, comprising large sections of libya and egypt.

Water related disputes often end before obvious ecological and human health consequences emerge, but not always. Southern african water conflicts are they inevitable or preventable. Water conflict is a term describing a conflict between countries, states, or groups over an access to water resources. Some causes of water conflicts in africa water is a classical case of a fugitive resource that moves naturally from one area to another. The horn of africa hoa has been mentioned as one of the most disputed regions of the globe. The past, present, and future of water conflict and. Before tackling conflicts in africa one should first consider conflict in general. Nuno ventura water conflict and cooperation in southern africa. The root causes of conflicts in the horn of africa. Rogers edited by dennis warner, chris seremet, and tom bamat.

Some 85% of africas water resources are comprised of large river basins that are shared between several countries. Allocating water among different users and uses, even when water supplies are adequate abundant, can be a cause of disputes. Fierce competition for fresh water may well become a source of conflict and wars in the future. The study found that poverty in africa is caused by a number of factors including corruption and poor governance, limited employment opportunities, poor infrastructure, poor resource usage, wars and unending conflicts, poor world bank and imf policies, among others. This day is however more relevant to the continent of africa where most conflicts have taken place, with some running into decades, with limited solutions. Based on a qualitative analysis of conflict in africa, this paper has identified broad types of conflict in order to understand better the conflict dynamics, causes and drivers on the continent. Conflicts, companies, human rights and water a critical. Many places, particularly in subsaharan africa or west asia and north africa, are already facing critical water shortages. In the dying years of the previous ethiopian government, tensions with egypt increased rapidly when the rulers in addis ababa pondered the construction of dams on the nile. The nature of entries in the chronology can be described and categorized in different ways.

For nearly two decades, the pacific institute has been tracking, analyzing, and cataloging instances of conflict over water resources see box wb 3. Jun 25, 20 transboundary water bodies and conflict in africa targeting and investing in areas of greatest need will likely increase the impact of those funds, potentially reducing conflict in the most vulnerable zones and improving the quality of water for those nearby. First, water conflict can materialise when tensions involve access to and allocation of water. The world health organization who has reported that more than 40 percent of the global water stressed population lives in subsaharan africa 3. Lasting solutions to the food emergencies affecting millions of people in nigeria, somalia, south sudan, and yemen require an end to violence in those. However, the prevalence of several diseases has decreased as. Oct 26, 2010 as temperatures rise and water supplies dry up, seminomadic tribes along the kenyanethiopian border increasingly are coming into conflict with each other. In africa, where poverty is a common phenomenon, 14 countries are currently experiencing water stress their people re. The horn of africa is a cradle of ancient civilizations, rich biodiversity and singular water woes. This document is intended to assist water development practitioners, civil. The first category is the most clearly related to water scarcity and competition for resources.

Water has been a historical tool of military conflict, and while future large. Political instability in africa where the problem lies and. Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the. Different understandings of, and approaches to, cbnrm in different regions 3. Water woes in the horn of africa murali pai countryside by a river. There is also another potential water war in southern africa involving botswana, namibia and angola. Water conflict and cooperation in southern africa swatuk. Water sector governance africa african development bank.

From the vast water conflict literature, it is possible to find three key linkages between water and conflict. A true water war can be defined as an armed conflict that is fought between countries with the sole or primary purpose of gaining access to water, or where water forms the central weapon of offence. Much of the worlds population lacks adequate clean water, either because of physical scarcity or because they are denied equitable access to water resources. Therefore, the broader term water conflict is preferred to cover the wide range of waterrelated disputes that have already been recorded. We all know that africa is a diverse continent with various ethnic groups, religions, and sociocultural affiliations. Water scarcity root of darfur conflict voice of america. The causes and impact of water shortage on the households. Experts say wise economic development focused on infrastructure and improved treaties on water allocation are crucial to relieving this stress. Climate change and natural resources conflicts in africa faida joy is a lecturer at tumaini university, iringa university college, tanzania, where she teaches environmental law and other public law subjects. The ability to harness water resources for human use has enabled the rise of complex civilizations. Causes and possible solutions to water resource conflicts. Water as a weapon of conflict, where water resources, or water systems themselves, are used as a tool or weapon in a violent.

Waterrelated violence is common in many parts of the world and is generally expected to increase in the years ahead. While conflict and violence come in many different shapes and. The future of transboundary water disputes over the worlds longest river jack di nunzio research assistant colonial agreements. How conflict drives hunger in africa, yemen council on.

A yale environment 360 video report from east africa focuses on a phenomenon that climate scientists say will be more and more common in the 21st century. The water resources of southern africa have featured centrally in the global literature on water conflict and cooperation. Asia, africa and the middle east countries are meeting increasing water demand by building reservoirs and by. From the arid pastoralist areas in the horn of africa to communi. If we put a well and that leads to different groups of people fighting over access to that water, than we are contributing to conflict. Transboundary water bodies and conflict in africa targeting and investing in areas of greatest need will likely increase the impact of those funds, potentially reducing conflict in the most vulnerable zones and improving the quality of water for those nearby. World water crisis water is central to human development. Water conflict in the middle east and north africa wikipedia. In africa, where poverty is a common phenomenon, 14 countries are currently experiencing water. However, despite seasonal and interannual variations in rainfall and river flows, the longterm average quantity of freshwater on the african continent appears to.

Water problems can lead to food shortages, energy crises, and ultimately economic and governmental instability. Pdf conflict, climate change, and water security in sub. The united nations recognizes that water disputes result from opposing interests of water users, public or private. Disputes and conflicts over water in africa semantic scholar. Jun 30, 2018 water problems can lead to food shortages, energy crises, and ultimately economic and governmental instability. Competition over natural resources, including water, is often viewed as a driver of conflict and has emerged as a key component in many current and past conflicts.

General overview of the consequences of african water. It is basically a desk study completed by the contribution of two african experts. Water policy experts maintain that we must respond simultaneously to all these issues if we are to avoid a crisis of scarcity in many places in the world. Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for iintegrated.

Pdf water cooperation and conflict in southern africa. Globally, aggregate national water use varies directly with both gross national. The role of water has been growing in the last 21 century. Irrigation in africa water conflicts between largescale and smallscale farmers in tanzania, kiru valley samy said supervisor. Therefore, even though sadc countries have responded to the issue of water resources in the region with a protocol on shared river basins, the okavango is likely to continue to be a source of strategic local and regional conflict in southern africa. Therefore seen from the perspective of political instability and as a drifting continent, many. Water has been both a source of conflict and a weapon used in conflicts, and water systems have been targets in conflicts started for a wide range of reasons. Avoiding conflicts over africas water resources geographical considerations and the availability of water in africa geographically, the african continent straddles the equator, with an approximately equal range of latitudes to the north and south, though a larger proportion of the continents land.