SUMMARY

The conflict between the Alago and Eggon people was fought over issues of land ownership and tenure. Residing in neighboring and sometimes overlapping areas, some Eggon farmers had for a long time cultivated on land belonging to the Alago. Traditionally they had been expected to pay some sort of tax to the Alago traditional ruler, but this had not been enforced for some time. When the chief again started to demand for taxes to be paid, tensions escalated, with the Eggon questioning the chief’s right to make this kind of demand since they had lived in the area for over 50 years. Furthermore, while the only crop to be taxed was rice, there was a general fear that it would spread to other crops too, should the Eggon accept it. The Alago king went on to demand that the Eggon stop cultivating the area, but this was ignored by the farmers. When the king sent an emissary to give a warning to those still farming, a spiral of violence began. The emissary was assaulted and the subsequent week saw simmering confrontations that eventually turned into heavy fighting between the two communities.

The non-state conflict between the Alago and Eggon is first included in UCDP data in 2012. In early June of that year clashes between the two groups resulted in some 50 battle-related deaths.