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Dossier March 2022

Nomads and Farmers, Old and New Fights in Africa.

In the last years one of the different ethnicities that live on the continent was put under the spotlight in West and Central Africa due to the violence and turmoil that other groups attribute to it. This ethnicity has several names (Peul, Fulani and Feulbe), and several ‘surnames’ (Toucouleur, Mbororo, etc.), and some related critical…

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Peuls, as foreigners.

Nomadism caused Peuls to move between different areas that, after the decolonization, became independent states. While normally the farmers developed links and attachment to the new states, many herders kept on moving between the borders thanks to the difficulties in controlling them. But, in this way, they were permanently perceived as strangers, even if they…

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The Enemy Inside.

The fight is not only between Peuls and other groups. In many areas there is also an inner fight within the community. Younger generations coming especially from the lower castes of the community refuse the role of a Peul aristocracy that they judge as corrupt and deceitful. To challenge the status quo, they take up…

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The crisis of chieftaincy.

The crisis of traditional authorities is a common phenomenon in many northern areas in West African countries and is not limited to Peuls. In addition to the factors listed above, traditional leaders lost their authoritativeness due to their links with the politicians. In many areas, politicians are directly involved in the nomination of traditional monarchs…

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Advocacy

Kenya. Mama Shamsa. “I am a mother to them”.

Faced with the violence of criminal gangs that have overwhelmed the lives of many children, the Kenyan activist opened the doors of her home, giving…

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Baobab

Maya. The Magic Town.

The ltzaes, a brave and peaceful group of Maya have been in these lands since time immemorial. They were led by a priest named Zamna, and while…

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Youth & Mission

World Youth Day. Pope Francis: “Each of us is an…

More than one and a half million people took part in World Youth Day (Lisbon, 1- 6 August).  Fragments of the Pope's speeches. “You are not here…

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