The Inner Niger Delta sits at the epicentre of Mali’s wider security crisis. Farmers, fishers, and herders have long coexisted through customary agreements. But weakening of traditional institutions, poorly implemented laws, and overlapping state and local governance structures have eroded trust.
As pastures dwindle and fishing grounds contract, disputes over water access have escalated. Clashes between herders and farmers, between fishers and herders, and even within professional groups are now frequent. Armed groups exploit these grievances, filling governance vacuums with violence and recruitment opportunities for disenfranchised youth. Thus, the degradation of wetlands is not only an environmental issue, it is directly linked to fragility, migration, and insecurity across the Sahel.