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On Violent Conflict, Land Scarcity, and Power in an urban Frontier in Congo

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  • Hoffmann, Kasper
  • Lund, Christian
  • Banyanga, Eric Batumike
  • Nalunva, Alice Mugoli
  • Pouliot, Mariève

Abstract

The relationship between land and violent conflict in Africa has long been a focal point for scholarly inquiry and development policy. According to an influential neo-Malthusian narrative, violent land conflicts erupt when land scarcity, population pressure, and state failure combine. In this paper we join a growing corpus of researchers arguing that the links between violent conflict and land scarcity are not linear, but embedded in complex and entangled social, economic and political processes. Using an extended case-study approach we explore land disputes in the Panzi neighbourhood of Bukavu, which is situated in the conflict-affected eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and appears to embody a neo-Malthusian crisis. We present three main findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Hoffmann, Kasper & Lund, Christian & Banyanga, Eric Batumike & Nalunva, Alice Mugoli & Pouliot, Mariève, 2026. "On Violent Conflict, Land Scarcity, and Power in an urban Frontier in Congo," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:201:y:2026:i:c:s0305750x26000264
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2026.107337
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