Insecurity or isolation? Natural resources and livelihoods in Lower Casamance

Little is known about the impact of civil conflicts on the livelihoods of rural and urban populations in Lower Casamance. During the last decade, the armed conflict between the movement of democratic forces of Casamance (MFDC) and the Senegalese government forces has created a series of economic difficulties for the local population who depend on the exploitation of natural resources for their livelihood. The research in question here is based primarily on a questionnaire administered to two hundred people, chosen at random, in four places known to be affected differently by the conflict. The results of the survey show that insecurity, which can vary enormously depending on the neighborhood or the village, is in some cases the cause of limited access to family sites for food or agricultural production. But the limits on production are also more general. Insecurity and the poor state of road infrastructure are restricting commercial activities at both local and regional levels. The surveyed population identified this reality as a significant economic problem. All in all, it is difficult to isolate the impact of the conflict from other factors that affect the standard of living of households. The issues surrounding production and marketing in the primary sector often reflect complex articulations between the effects of insecurity and economic isolation in a context of environmental and socio-economic change. Insecurity and the poor state of road infrastructure are restricting commercial activities at both local and regional levels. The surveyed population identified this reality as a significant economic problem. All in all, it is difficult to isolate the impact of the conflict from other factors that affect the standard of living of households. The issues surrounding production and marketing in the primary sector often reflect complex articulations between the effects of insecurity and economic isolation in a context of environmental and socio-economic change. Insecurity and the poor state of road infrastructure are restricting commercial activities at both local and regional levels. The surveyed population identified this reality as a significant economic problem. All in all, it is difficult to isolate the impact of the conflict from other factors that affect the standard of living of households. The issues surrounding production and marketing in the primary sector often reflect complex articulations between the effects of insecurity and economic isolation in a context of environmental and socio-economic change. it is difficult to isolate the impact of the conflict from other factors that affect the standard of living of households. The issues surrounding production and marketing in the primary sector often reflect complex articulations between the effects of insecurity and economic isolation in a context of environmental and socio-economic change. it is difficult to isolate the impact of the conflict from other factors that affect the standard of living of households. The issues surrounding production and marketing in the primary sector often reflect complex articulations between the effects of insecurity and economic isolation in a context of environmental and socio-economic change.