Access to Water on the Senegal-Niger River Axis: A Vital Resource at the Heart of Tensions and Cooperation
Access to water—a vital yet limited resource—is a critical issue for the populations living along the Senegal-Niger river axis. As both a driver of development and a source of tension, water fuels conflicts and rivalries between communities, exacerbated by geopolitical and environmental challenges. This article offers an introduction to the themes of territory, conflict, and access to water along this river corridor, where the banks connect populations but also crystallize rivalries. This exploration sheds light on the management and access challenges of water, as well as the solutions being considered to promote peace and shared prosperity.
Water: Source of Life and of Tension
Along the Senegal-Niger axis, water is essential for agriculture, fishing, and domestic consumption. Yet, this resource is under increasing pressure, facing challenges such as climate change, population growth, and the demands of rapid urbanization (Gleick, 1993). Access to this strategic resource becomes a key factor for stability, as users—farmers, fishers, and riverside communities—compete for its distribution, giving rise to conflicts that can jeopardize both security and development.
Water-related conflicts often arise in contexts of scarcity or unequal access. Frequent droughts and seasonal variations in river flow affect water availability, heightening tensions between social and ethnic groups that rely on the river for their livelihoods. In an environment where water becomes a scarce good, each actor seeks to maximize their access—often at the expense of others—thereby intensifying tensions and, in some cases, escalating into violent conflict (Zeitoun & Warner, 2006).
The Weight of Territories and Borders
The Senegal-Niger axis crosses several countries and territories, where political and administrative boundaries complicate the shared management of this resource. The riverine territories are home to communities with diverse cultures and needs, making cross-border coordination difficult. Each state seeks to prioritize its economic interests, for example by building dams for energy generation or crop irrigation. However, these national initiatives can negatively impact downstream populations, fueling resentment and interstate tensions (Wolf et al., 2005).
Infrastructures such as dams, intended to improve water access in some riparian countries, can have adverse effects on others. For example, dams built upstream can reduce water flow to downstream populations, thereby compromising their agricultural activities and daily access to water. These territorial disputes over water resources add to local conflicts, with each community defending its water access against others (Keating & Buhaug, 2016).
Toward Shared Governance for Peace and Prosperity
In response to these challenges, regional and international initiatives aim to promote shared and sustainable water governance along the Senegal-Niger axis. Water management can no longer be conceived purely at the national level; it requires stronger cross-border collaboration. In this context, organizations such as the Organisation for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS) and the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) play a fundamental role. These organizations facilitate dialogue among member states, coordinate resource-use policies, and implement joint projects to equitably improve access to water (Yahaya, 2002).
Cross-border cooperation, although essential, remains complex due to economic and political disparities among riparian countries. States must negotiate solutions that address the specific needs of each region while preserving the integrity of the river ecosystem. In this regard, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) emerges as an appropriate governance model. It considers social, economic, and environmental aspects to promote balanced and sustainable water management (Mason et al., 2009).
Local Initiatives to Ease Tensions
In addition to regional governance efforts, local initiatives contribute to reducing tensions by raising awareness and promoting community-based resource management. In some regions, for instance, cooperatives and local associations work together to establish water-sharing rules, thereby creating spaces for dialogue and cooperation between communities. These initiatives have proven effective in preventing conflicts by allowing local populations to actively participate in managing their resources (Zawahri & Mitchell, 2011).
Mobilizing riverine communities is crucial to ensuring the success of governance initiatives. By involving local actors in decision-making processes, governments can foster fairer and more widely accepted management. Furthermore, such initiatives strengthen communities’ resilience to water crises by encouraging more rational and sustainable use of water (Swatuk, 2005).
Conclusion
The issue of access to water along the Senegal-Niger river axis is a major challenge that transcends borders and requires cooperative and sustainable management. While tensions between territories and communities persist, the Young Researchers’ Colloquium provides a unique opportunity to explore these complex issues and discuss innovative solutions. Through inclusive and integrated governance, the Senegal-Niger axis has the potential to become a model of peaceful coexistence and sustainable development for riverine populations and the entire region.