The scale of cattle rustling in Mali is the climax of a decade of growth of the practice, and cattle rustling is now a central and under-reported element of the country’s security crisis variously as a driver of conflict, as a governance and intimidation mechanism, and as a key source of revenue for non-state armed groups.
This report assesses the intersection of the criminal economy of cattle rustling with Mali’s instability. To do this, the report looks at the evolution of cattle rustling in Mali. It then focuses on understanding the political economy of cattle rustling – the actors involved, motivations and profits – and the relationship between these actors and local communities, with a focus on violent extremist groups’ governance of natural resources.
Lire aussi (en français) Avec des changements clés dans la dynamique ancrée en 2022, le vol de bétail devrait rester une menace majeure au Nigeria et au Mali en 2023
