‘L’impact à long terme de la violence sur l’organisation foncière et la sécurité alimentaire. La région du Guéra, centre du Tchad’

The long-term impact of violence on land tenure and food security. The Guera Region (central Chad). Scientific literature seldom mentions the problem of the long-term impact of violence and civil war on land tenure and the development of agricultural production systems. Most humanitarian efforts are concentrated on the immediate situation and as soon as the emergency is over, the situation is considered to be back to “normal”. However, from a historical point of view, the vast majority of land tenure systems throughout the world are deeply affected by the consequences of violence. This paper examines the long-term impact of violence and the almost permanent political insecurity on agricultural production systems, land tenure and, lastly, food security. Using data collected in three villages in Guera in central Chad between 2003 and 2006, a strong correlation was found between the intensity and the type of violence, on one hand, and land tenure and agricultural production, as well as the social and food situation, on the other hand. Several lessons are drawn and questions raised for furthering the research on these processes.