Trans-boundary Natural Resources Management in the Horn of Africa: The Role of IGAD Peace and Security Strategy

Abstract

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has produced a peace and security strategy that aims at comprehensively and systematically dealing with the numerous conflicts that continue to bedevil the Horn of Africa (HoA) region. The strategy identifies the management of trans-boundary natural resources as one of the potential causes of conflict. Already IGAD has been running a conflict early warning programme in borderland pastoral communities which has proved successful in stemming conflicts over water and pastures. Nevertheless, in terms of managing the numerous trans-boundary natural resources of the region (lakes and rivers in particular) IGAD’s effort is still work in progress. The key argument of the paper is that implementation of the IPSS plan on this issue may ran into problems because the  management of natural resources (even those that are trans-boundary) is at the heart of the member states national sovereignties, which is a no-go area for regional organisations such as IGAD. Moreover, IGAD is saddled with many problems especially financial to deal with the issue of trans-boundary natural resources management successfully.