Heterogeneity of Land Resources and the Implications on Civil Conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa (1986-2003)

This paper presents the results of an analysis of data covering the period from 1986 to 2003, exploring the heterogeneity of land resources and the implications on civil conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa, with consideration of both the frequency and the intensity of civil conflict. The study considers the different characteristics of resources in terms of their production and marketing, vis-à-vis the commercial relationships involving the stakeholders in resource wealth. The study finds that: one, food dependence and mineral and metal dependence contribute more to the frequency of civil conflicts; two, though it ranked low in its prominence in determining the frequency of civil conflicts, dependence on oil makes civil conflicts most highly intensive; and three, the dependence on mineral and metal is highly prominent in determining both the frequency and the intensity of civil conflict.