Violence between Christians and Muslims – or between Fulani herders and Berom farmers ?

We should all feel concerned by the recent events around Jos in Nigeria. There were reports of over 500 casualties. Some see it as a conflict between Christians and Muslims. Others say it is a clash between Fulani pastoralists and Berom farmers. And still others believe it is a crisis of ethnic inspiration with religious overtones. What sparked this conflict? Is it of religious origin or ethnic ?

Yusuf Alkali, a Fulani inhabitant of Jos told the French press agency AFP that the recent raids might have been a retaliation for the assault two weeks earlier by Berom people against Fulani, suspected of having stolen cattle. Four herders were killed.

« The Fulani livestock keepers were forced to leave their camp site and I think they organised a counter-attack », Mr Alkali explained.

It is difficult to form an accurate opinion of these events through press reports. But we are free to use this opportunity to ask ourselves some serious questions.In many African countries it is difficult for traditional livestock herders to find their place in modern society. And public authorities are not always helpful. In Burkina, where the population is growing (from 4 million in 1965 to nearly 16 million now), is it possible for farmers and Fulani herders to live side by side?

Burkina Faso has not seen such tragic events as Nigeria. But are we safe from an outbreak of violence of this order ?

I am not certain. In any case we all need each other. Farmers need pastoralists. And vice versa. And we, the population at large, need both.

I was informed of the fighting in Nigeria when I was in a region of Burkina where tension runs high between farmers and stock-keepers and the local authorities.

It is the frustration, in particular, among the Fulani herders that keeps rising. In the region, where violent confrontation has already occurred, the farmers and herders I talked to were unanimous in saying that the present situation is unsound, and that violence could break out again.

In some villages, groups of a few youths have been formed to go out and drive cattle into farmers’ fields or into nearby protected forests. They then call in the forest guard to come and take note of the trespassing. Herders have to pay heavy fines, but are not given a receipt or discharge from the public office. Income from such fines is not recorded in the municipal accounts. When a few brave people dare confront the administration (provincial or local government, municipal offices) they are met with : "…we have not had any information", and no action is taken in consequence.

Elsewhere it could be a village chief who refuses to allow the Fulani to form an association of their own. Or there might be somebody else who puts up his borderstones around an area assigned to the Fulani for many years...

There are, most certainly, also farmers who might have complaints about the misdeeds of Fulani herders.

All this, combined with a growing population, could lead to violence that might prove difficult to contain.

For every instance where the public administration does not duly exercise its authority, by applying the law strictly and administer justice equitably, serious frustrations arise.And that means as many threats for the future.

Nobody can deny that both among the administrators and the forest guards, there are individuals who prefer bolstering their own pay check, on the backs of herders (among others), rather than applying the law impartially.They are indeed criminal firebrands, who will be incapable of extinguishing the violence, once it sets in.

I sincerely hope that following the onset of violence in Nigeria, the Ministry of Local Government and Decentralisation of Burkina will launch a vast inquiry into the conflicts between farmers and livestock herders. And that all those who have lined their pockets unfairly be treated as they deserve !

Will we have the strength to face reality and take the necessary action before it is too late ?

Koudougou, March 20th 2010
Maurice Oudet
President, SEDELAN