Paper short abstract:

A literature exists on transhumant peasant-pastoralist conflicts. In the peanut basin, the analysis focuses on the obstruction of transhumance corridors. A Survey reveals the reconfiguration of the plot, the exacerbation of conflicts and the responsibility of the state in these conflicts.

Paper long abstract:

There is abundant literature today on the causes and consequences of conflicts between peasants and transhumant pastoralists. The causes have always been attributed to climate change (and its corollary the recurrence of bad rainy seasons), to the high demographic pressure, etc. Both have, among others, led to a steady increase in agricultural front on pastoral areas, longer distances transhumance and competition for access to resources or overuse of these. Relations between peasants and pastoralists are therefore conflicting. This contribution aims to analyze, in the old Senegalese groundnut basin, a new situation, in this case a destabilizing effect Highway Ila Touba on obstruction of traditional breeders passages corridors nomadic Fulani or Sereer. During a two-week mission in the Thies and Diourbel regions, we targeted the villages adjoining this infrastructure. So we made two round trips Dakar-Touba for a landscape observation. Thus, the analysis of the results of this qualitative and quantitative survey first revealed the reconfiguration of the parcels crossed by the motorway. Secondly, it has exacerbated conflicts between sedentary peasants and transhumant pastoralists. Indeed, all transhumance corridors established by the communes following deliberations were disrupted. Livestock damage on crop plots has resumed. Finally, there is the role of the state in aggravating these conflicts. Pastoral mobility has not, once again, been taken into account in this national project.

Key words: conflicts between peasants and pastors; transhumance; old groundnut basin; Ila Touba Highway; transhumance corridors; Senegalese state.