Climate Change and Inter-Community Conflict in East Africa: A Systematic Review of Pastoralist Livelihoods and Human Security

Abstract

Climate change has emerged as a major concern for governments, scholars, and development stakeholders due to its far-reaching implications for human security and social stability, particularly in developing regions. In East Africa, climate variability and extreme events increasingly intersect with existing socio-economic and political vulnerabilities, intensifying inter-community conflicts, especially among pastoralist communities. However, existing empirical studies provide fragmented and sometimes contradictory evidence regarding the relationship between climate change and conflict. This article adopts a systemic literature review approach to examine the nexus between climate change and inter-community conflict in East Africa, with a specific focus on pastoralist groups. Following PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed articles were systematically retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, JSTOR, etc. covering the period 1995-2025. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria focusing on climate change impacts, pastoralist livelihoods, conflict dynamics, and human security outcomes. The findings reveal that the relationship between climate change and inter-community conflict is highly context-dependent rather than deterministic. Climate-induced resource scarcity, livelihood disruption, migration, and pastoral mobility interact with social political processes, governance structures, and institutional weakness to shape conflict outcomes. In many cases, declining access to land and water undermine pastoralist livelihoods, exacerbate competition, and heightens human insecurity, thereby increasing the likelihood of conflict. The review contributes to the literature by systematically synthesizing dispersed empirical evidence and advancing a nexus-based analytical understanding of climate change and inter-community conflict among pastoralist communities in East Africa. It further highlights the critical role of governments and stakeholders in strengthening adaptive capacity, enhancing resilience, and promoting diversified livelihood strategies as pathways to conflict prevention and sustainable human security.