Presentation: Livelihoods, Power And Choice

Livelihoods, Power and Choice:

The Vulnerability of the Northern Rizaygat Darfur Region, Sudan 1

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Exclusion from International Processes     

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Politicized image & demonization Lack of knowledge Less vulnerable?? Access; hard-to-reach, scattered Broader regional discrimination of pastoralists

The Chief at the wedding party…. “Since the problems began people say Arabs are the source of all the problems, and have driven people from their homes – they blame them for the problem, and the NGOs have changed their approach – why do they only work with one side and why do they blame us?”

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“There are increasing signs that Arab tribes feel left out from the provision of assistance/ services by the international community, which is mostly targeting African tribes (with the notable exception of ICRC). This is becoming another actor breeding resentment and tension between the communities”. UNHCR Protection Officer, March 2005 5

Research aims  Promote understanding and raise awareness about the livelihood challenges facing specific pastoralist groups;  Engage a broader group of stakeholders and promote a dialogue in order to promote their inclusion as stakeholders in relevant national and international level processes  Sharpen the focus and effectiveness of strategic humanitarian action aimed at supporting the livelihoods of these groups now and in the future. 6

– : to review the major environmental issues affecting pastoralists,

Livelihood Vulnerability

 What are the historical and prevailing institutional, environmental and policy processes that are shaping and driving livelihood vulnerability, and how does this play out in terms of livelihood adaptations, and 7 (power) relations between groups’?

Research Methods

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Who ar e the Nor ther n Riz ay gat ?  Tribe and ecology  Northern & Southern Rizaygat – Abbala (camel herders) & Baqqara (cattle herders) – – – – –

Mahriyya - abbala & baggara, Nu’ayba, - abbala & baggara Mahamid - abbala & baggara Ireyqat - abbala Iteyfat - abbala

 Demography: 200,000 to 350,000  9

Informed Choice, or Coercive Offer? Long term processes of economic marginalization, social and political exclusion  Long-standing (and inequitable) systems of land tenure and natural resource management  Passive and active neglect by national authorities of pastoralist groups  Conflict; locally (e.g. Fur Arab war, Arab Zaghawa conflict), nationally (links to war in south) and regionally (Chad and Libya). – Role of ecology and climate variability – function of governance & power relations 10

Direct Impact of the conflict  Government mobilization and militia recruitment  Targeted attacks, kidnappings and killings, forced displacement and livestock raiding  Lack of visibility of the losses of the Northern Rizaygat “The Fur, Masalit, Zaghawa, started acting together. They told the Libyans that their intentions were to attack the GoS but their real intention was to attack the Arabs” “The fear was that after they dealt with the GoS they 11 would then attack the Arabs”

International Commission of Inquiry in 2005  Para 287 .. an attack described to the Commission by some eyewitnesses, where members of the nomadic Rezeigat tribe were attacked while in the Kulbus area by members of the SLA and JEM. The attackers killed forty eight persons including women and children and stole property and livestock from the market and then destroyed it. The victims were buried many days after the attack in areas surrounding Kulbus.

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Livelihoods in Transition: From Marginalization to “ Mal-adaptation”  Traditional nomadic systems rapidly change – Contraction of pastoralist domain – Blocked livestock trade & labour migration/ remittances – Cultivation increasing

 Maladaptive strategies – Military salaries – Firewood

 Quick returns, short-term  Depend on distorted markets, conflict and violence 13

Shift in livelihood strategies Nur el Huda (near Galala), West Darfur

Barka Alla, North of Kutum, North Darfur 70%

60%

60% 50%

50% 40%

40%

Before Currently

30% 20%

Before

30%

Currently

20%

10% 10%

0% Livestock

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Farming

Trade

Migration

Salaried (Military recruitment)

0% Wild Foods

Libya

Handicrafts

Agriculture

Livestock

Firewood

Vulnerability qualitatively different…  Broadened livelihood options  Strengthened access to assets – Natural – Financial – Physical

 Depleted other assets – Social – Human – Political

 Skewed assets portfolio 15

Choice is driven by livelihood goals    

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Camels Land Education Militarization

Exclusion, Marginalization and Misrepresentation Ongoing processes shaping vulnerability:  Processes of sedentarization  Youth and militarization  Social polarization  Loss of local & transnational markets  Lack of representation, leadership  International processes of exclusion and misrepresentation 17

Recommendations          18

Participatory policy review of pastoralism Local civil society advocacy on camel pastoralism and the abbala Localising the peace process and linking Human and social development adapted to pastoralist lifestyles Improving accountability, transparency, responsiveness of governance Encouraging a new generation of leadership Reversing militarization as a livelihoods strategy Best practice programs, joint research and learning

Conclusions: no ‘quick-fix’  Good governance -a pre-requisite for lasting peace and for reversing long-term processes  Valid and legitimate claim to land and natural resources  International peace processes risk reinforcing power imbalances  Need to challenge western models of humanitarian, recovery and development – Narrow view on vulnerabilty (based on food security) – Narrow range of hum interventions dominated by food – Short timeframes for analysis and lack of confilct analysis – Pastoralism as an adaptation to climate variability

 Reaffirm core human rights and non-derogable 19 human rights principles

Thank you [email protected]

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QUESTIONS  What can be done in the short-term to address the vulnerability of the Northern Rizaygat?  What can be done to raise awareness, promote understand and increase the visibility of the camel-herding groups, and the way they are portrayed internationally, and by international actors in Sudan? 21

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