SUMMARY

The conflict between Fulani (Peulh) herders and Tuaregs was characterized by short outburst of violence, which caused more than 25 fatalities in 1997 and then again in 2014.

During the 1997 fighting, the conflict issue revolved around land, in this particular case, the use of a well. The initial clashes were recorded in March 1997 as Nigerien Fulani herders, traveling through Malian territory, were attacked by Tuareg fighters. Fulani fighters fought back, and 22 people lost their lives. The attack was later followed up by a second clash, in July, with Tuareg fighters, targeting Fulani villages in Niger. In the two clashes, Tuareg fighters killed indiscriminately, leaving 34 people dead, a substantial number being children and women. This was the extent of the violence in the conflict during this year.

The Government of Mali responded to the fighting by inviting the Government of Niger to talks in the city of Menaka in Mali. These talks were held after the first outburst of violence, in March, and failed to prevent the eruption of the July fighting.

While no deaths were recorded in fighting between the two groups for 16 years after the events of July 1997, relations between them remained strained and they repeatedly accused each other of both cattle rustling and hold-ups. In 2014, the conflict escalated and became active again. During this eruption, a kidnapping of a Fulani man led other Fulanis to attack a group of Tuaregs in Tamkoutat town, in Gao region.

The non-state conflict between Fulani (Peulh) and Tuareg is first included in UCDP data in 1997. In July that year clashes between the two groups had resulted in over 25 battle-related deaths.