Transnational transhumance, the long-distance migration of pastoralists and their cattle across national boundaries in order to exploit seasonally available pastures and water, has by and large been ignored by the international community as a priority conservation and security concern in Africa’s Sudano-Sahel.

Challenges regarding pastoralism are not new in this region; however, ongoing instability has amplified conflict dynamics pertaining to natural resource access across much of the landscape. This has fueled abrupt and abnormal herd movements, resulting in increased threats to the region’s network of protected areas, their resident wildlife, and rural resource-dependent communities, including pastoralists.