Conflict and Growth in Africa : the Sahel.

185 Pages·0.618 MB·English

by  OECD

D E V E L O P M E N T C E N T R E S T U D I E S
CONFLICT AND GROWTH
IN AFRICA
Vol. 1: The Sahel
BY
JEAN-PAUL AZAM AND CHRISTIAN MORRISSON
WITH
SOPHIE CHAUVIN ANDSANDRINE ROSPABÉ
(cid:211) OECD, 1999.
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DEVELOPMENT CENTRE STUDIES
CONFLICT AND GROWTH
IN AFRICA
Vol. 1: The Sahel
By
Jean-Paul Azam and Christian Morrisson
with
Sophie Chauvin and Sandrine Rospabe´
DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
OF THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION
AND DEVELOPMENT
Pursuant to Article 1 of the Convention signed in Paris on 14th December 1960, and which came
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Publie´ en franc¸ais sous le titre :
CONFLITS ET CROISSANCE EN AFRIQUE
Vol. 1 : Le Sahel
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(cid:211) OECD 1999
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Foreword
This publication is produced in the context of the Development Centre’s work
on seeking ways to integrate poorer countries into the world economy. It results
specifically from the project entitled Political Economy and Development in Africa,
two other volumes complete the series.
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Table of Contents
Preface .................................................................................................................. 7
Acknowledgements......................................................................................................... 8
Executive Summary......................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 17
Chapter 2 Mali: Political Stability at High Risk .................................................. 31
Chapter 3 Uncontrolled Public Finances and Political Instability
in Burkina Faso ...................................................................................... 59
Chapter 4 Niger: Political Instability and Economic Stagnation ....................... 85
Chapter 5 Chad: Conflict and Impoverishment ...................................................127
Chapter 6 The Sahara and Sub-Saharan Africa .....................................................163
Chapter 7 Conclusion..............................................................................................173
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TheSahelianCountries(cid:150)Niger,Mali,BurkinaFasoandChad
Mediterranean Sea
TUNISIA
MOROCCO
Canary Islands
ALGERIA
LIBYA EGYPT
WESTERN
SAHARA Taoudenni
Aozou
MAURITANIA Tessalit
6
Araouane NIGER Bilma
Faya-Largeau
Tombouctou Agades CHAD SUDAN
MALI Gao
SENEGAL Kayes Nioro du Sahel Mapti Tillaberi Tahoua Maradi Nguigai Biltine
Kita BURKINA Niamey Zinder Lake
GAMBIA Bamako FASO Desse Chad Ati
Ouagadougou N’Djamena
GUINEA BISSAU BougouniBobo Dioulasso
GUINEA
BENIN
SLIEEORNREA Moundou
Atlantic GHANA TOGO NIGERIA CENTRAL
Ocean LIBERIA CÔTE D’IVOIRE
CAMEROON AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Scale
0Km.150 EQUATORIAL
GUINEA
0 Miles150
SAOTOME
& PRINCIPE CONGO
The boundaries and names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the OECD. K. Smith
Preface
During a September 1994 seminar organised by the Development Centre on
growth prospects in sub–Saharan Africa and the causes of past stagnation, a consensus
was reached on the disastrous effect of the conflicts that had occurred in the region
since the 1960s. It appeared unquestionable that many economic failures in the region
were due to unrest and civil war. This conclusion led the Centre to undertake the
present project on conflicts and growth, but not without some misgivings: this type of
analysis requires a mastery of disciplines far removed from economics, and the ethnic,
religious, linguistic, social and economic factors of conflict are so entangled that it is
difficult to obtain a clear idea of the role of economic factors in order to suggest new
economic policies for preventing conflicts.
The authors of this study have nevertheless managed, through meticulous
examination of the facts and the history of these four Sahel countries (Mali,
BurkinaFaso, Niger and Chad), to identify several economic factors of conflict. Some
of these factors, such as regional or urban–rural inequalities in the provision of
education and health services, are also found in other African countries studied under
this project, while others are specific to the Sahel countries. An example of the latter
is a system which appropriates public resources for the benefit of a small, privileged
minority of civil servants, who are much less numerous and receive much higher
wages than in other countries that are equally poor. The tax burden is thus the same as
in other countries, but the state does not provide the same services, particularly in
education and health. Another factor which is specific to these countries, except for
Burkina Faso, is the centuries–old conflict of interests between northern peoples, such
as Tuaregs and Arabs, and southern peoples. This factor explains a long civil war in
Chad which left the country in ruins.
Non–economic factors have also played a role, of course, as is best exemplified
by the ethnic conflicts in Chad. The value of the present study, however, lies in having
shown the importance of economic factors of conflict which compound pre–existing
factors. This enables the authors to conclude with proposals for economic policy
changes which would considerably diminish the risk of unrest or civil war. Everyone
who is aware of the human and material costs of such conflicts will be interested in
these proposals to promote growth and civil peace.
Jean Bonvin
President
OECD Development Centre
March 1999
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Acknowledgements
The Development Centre would like to express its gratitude to the Government
of Switzerland for the financial support given to the project on “Emerging Africa” in
the context of which this study was carried out.
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