Land Use Transformation, Conflict and Rural Poverty in the Rain Lands of Sudan

Abstract

This paper explores the links between changes in land use, local level conflicts and rural poverty on the rain lands of Sudan during the last four decades. The paper departs from the premises that the rapidly accelerating and unplanned changes in land use have been a major source of local level conflict and rural poverty on the rain lands of the country. The study was based on primary data collected through consultation meetings and focused group discussions with communities and their social institutions supported by available secondary data. The study concluded that the large scale land acquisition, due to many causes such as the expansion of semi mechanized farming the rapid investments (especially in the agribusiness and mining sectors), the  secession of South Sudan. All these causes which happen under conditions of land degradation, accelerated growth in humans and livestock population, climate change and the weakened environmental governance have heightened the demand and competition for access to land, leading, thus to various forms of inequalities, violence, human insecurities and institutionalization of rural poverty.