Land, Governance, Conflict and the Nuba of Sudan (Eastern Africa Series, 9)

The conflict in the Nuba Mountains in central Sudan illustrates how state policies concerning the control of land can cause local conflicts to escalate into large scale wars, which become increasingly difficult to manage or resolve. The conventional perspective on Sudan's recent civil war (1983-2005) - one of the longest and most complex conflicts in Africa - emphasises ethnicity as the main cause. This study, on the contrary, identifies the land factor as aroot cause that is central to understanding Sudan's local conflicts and large-scale wars. Land rights are about relationships between and among persons, pertaining to different economic and ritual activities. Rights toland are intimately tied to membership in specific communities, from the family to the nation-state. Control over land in Africa has been, and still is, used as a means of defining identity and belonging, an instrument to control, and a source of, political power. Membership of these communities is contested, negotiable, and changeable over time. For national governments land is a national economic resource for public and private development, but the interests and rights of rural majorities and their sedentary or nomadic subsistence forms of life are often difficult to harmonise with land policies pursued by national governments. The state's exclusionary land policies and politicsof limiting or denying communities their land rights play a crucial role in causing local conflicts that then can escalate into large-scale wars. Land issues increase the complexity of a conflict, thereby reducing the possibilityof managing, resolving, or ultimately transforming it. The conflict in the Nuba Mountains in central Sudan, the regional focus in this study, is living proof of this transformation. Guma Kunda Komey is Assistant Professor of Human Geography, Juba University, Sudan. Frontcover CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES & MAPS PREFACE: The Making & Object of the Book ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS INTRODUCTION National Context, Key Questions & Arguments Falsehood of the independent Sudan National disparity in development and its political implications Land factor in conflicts and wars State governance and land-based conflicts Core questions and line of argument Organization of the book Part I: Background 1 The Nuba Mountains Region as Social World Introduction Land as source and basis of livelihoods The sedentary Nuba The nomadic Baqqara The Nuba marginality, enslavement and dislocation: an historical review Postcolonial state and land grabbing in the region Conclusion 2 State Land Policies, Politics & Rights in Sudan Introduction The precolonial stage and communal land rights The colonial stage and regional differential in land policies The postcolonial state policy and institutionalization of land grabbing Conclusion Part II: The War: Causes & Impact 3 The War: Root Causes & Ramifications in the Region Nuba marginalization and their peaceful political striving The Nuba Mountains Region as a conflict zone Peace villages and forced social transformation: the Reikha case Land alienation and livelihood destruction during the war Conclusion 4 Baqqara–Nuba Relations in a War Situation Introduction The pre-war symbiotic socio-economic relations The war and new forms of local markets and exchanges Market-motivated communal peace agreements Conclusion Part III: Peace & Post-conflict Dynamics 5 The CPA & the Nuba Questions of Land, Identity & Political Destiny The three areas: a bone of contention The contested area of the Nuba Mountains The Comprehensive Peace Agreement and Nuba disappointment Nuba responses to the CPA: a discourse analysis Nuba Land Strategy as a base for ethno-political identity and unity Tribal boundaries: a challenge to the Nuba ethno-political unity Conclusion 6 Territory, Ethnic Identity & Boundary Making Introduction Territory/region as a basis for communal identity politics The Nuba autochthonous myth and its political and territorial attachments Territory and politics of liberation: the al-Azraq case Imagined boundaries in a contested territory: the Umm Derafi case Conclusion 7 Contested Communal Lands, Identity Politics & Conflicts Nuba and Baqqara contest over a shared territory: the Keiga case Keiga line of argument in claiming land The Dar Jami’ Baqqara: counter-claims and collective responses Nuba and Baqqara representations and self-perceptions Some key factors aggravating land conflicts in the area Nuba–Baqqara land conflict after peace: concrete cases Unfolding political events and the Nuba future choices Conclusion CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX Backcover The Conventional Perspective On Sudan's Recent Civil War (1983-2005) - One Of The Longest And Most Complex Conflicts In Africa - Emphasises Ethnicity As The Main Cause. This Study, On The Contrary, Identifies The Land Factor As A Root Cause That Is Central To Understanding Sudan's Local Conflicts And Large-scale Wars. Land Rights Are About Relationships Between And Among Persons, Pertaining To Different Economic And Ritual Activities. Rights To Land Are Intimately Tied To Membership In Specific Communities, From The Family To The Nation-state. Control Over Land In Africa Has Been, And Still Is, Used As A Means Of Defining Identity And Belonging, An Instrument To Control, And A Source Of, Political Power. Membership Of These Communities Is Contested, Negotiable, And Changeable Over Time. For National Governments Land Is A National Economic Resource For Public And Private Development, But The Interests And Rights Of Rural Majorities And Their Sedentary Or Nomadic Subsistence Forms Of Life Are Often Difficult To Harmonise With Land Policies Pursued By National Governments. The State's Exclusionary Land Policies And Politics Of Limiting Or Denying Communities Their Land Rights Play A Crucial Role In Causing Local Conflicts That Then Can Escalate Into Large-scale Wars. Land Issues Increase The Complexity Of A Conflict, Thereby Reducing The Possibility Of Managing, Resolving, Or Ultimately Transforming It. The Conflict In The Nuba Mountains In Central Sudan, The Regional Focus In This Study, Is Living Proof Of This Transformation. -- Back Cover. Introduction: National Context, Key Questions & Arguments ---- Part I. Background. 1. The Nuba Mountains Region As Social World: A Synthesis --- 2. State Land Policies, Politics & Rights In Sudan ---- Part Ii. The War, Causes & Impact. 3. The War: Root Causes & Ramifications In The Region --- 4. Baqqara-nuba Relations In A War Situation ---- Part Iii. Peace & Post- Conflict Dynamics. 5. The Cpa & The Nuba Questions Of Land, Identity & Political Destiny --- 6. Territory, Ethnic Identity & Boundary Making --- 7. Contested Communal Lands, Identity Politics & Conflicts ---- Conclusion. Guma Kunda Komey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 227-245) And Index. The conventional perspective on Sudan's recent civil war (1983-2005) - one of the longest and most complex conflicts in Africa - emphasises ethnicity as the main cause. This study, on the contrary, identifies the land factor as a root cause that is central to understanding Sudan's local conflicts and large-scale wars. Land rights are about relationships between and among persons, pertaining to different economic and ritual activities. Rights to land are intimately tied to membership in specific communities, from the family to the nation-state. Control over land in Africa has been, and still is, used as a means of defining identity and belonging, an instrument to control, and a source of, political power. Membership of these communities is contested, negotiable, and changeable over time. For national governments land is a national economic resource for public and private development, but the interests and rights of rural majorities and their sedentary or nomadic subsistence forms of life are often difficult to harmonise with land policies pursued by national governments. The state's exclusionary land policies and politics of limiting or denying communities their land rights play a crucial role in causing local conflicts that then can escalate into large-scale wars. Land issues increase the complexity of a conflict, thereby reducing the possibility of managing, resolving, or ultimately transforming it. The conflict in the Nuba Mountains in central Sudan, the regional focus in this study, is living proof of this transformation. Guma Kunda Komey is Assistant Professor of Human Geography, Juba University, Sudan.-- Provided by publisher