Pastoralist conflict in Ethiopia from 2015 to 2022 : climate change and food insecurity as exacerbating factors

Abstract

This study explores how climate change and food insecurity account for an exacerbation in conflict involving pastoralists in Ethiopia from 2015 to 2022. Because of Ethiopia’s geographical setting, terrain and over-reliance on rainfed agriculture the nation is extremely susceptible to climate change. The increase in temperatures and recurring droughts due to climate change have resulted in a drastic decline in crop yields and reduced pastures. The study focused on pastoralists in the Somali region and analysed conflicts with pastoralists from its neighbouring regional states that it shares borders with. The conflicts analysed were between the Somali-Afar and Somali-Oromia pastoralist communities between 2015 and 2022. Due to a lack of natural resources, these communities have been historically contesting territories along shared borders. The impact of conflicts on food and livelihood security of these pastoralist communities was also considered. The study finds that the Somali region of Ethiopia has suffered the most from climate change induced droughts and famine from 2015-2022 due to the arid harsh climate which has forced the communities to find alternative strategies of surviving these droughts. Not only did the study provide evidence of the link between climate change induced droughts and famines, food insecurity and livelihood insecurity, but it linked all these to conflicts among pastoralists communities. The research concludes that climate change and food insecurity significantly exacerbated conflict among pastoralist communities in Ethiopia between 2015 to 2022.