Poverty-conflict nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping literature review

Moses Naiim Fuseini (), Kaderi Noagah Bukari, Ibrahim Abu Abdulai, Tobias Tseer, Asaah Sumaila Mohammed, Mohammed Gadafi Ibrahim, William Aduah Yorose and Sabina Appiah-Boateng
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Moses Naiim Fuseini: Nick TC Scan Gambia
Kaderi Noagah Bukari: Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies
Ibrahim Abu Abdulai: University of Cape Coast
Tobias Tseer: University of Cape Coast
Asaah Sumaila Mohammed: C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences
Mohammed Gadafi Ibrahim: University for Development Studies
William Aduah Yorose: Bolgatanga Technical University
Sabina Appiah-Boateng: Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies

Palgrave Communications, 2025, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains entangled in the dual challenges of persistent poverty and recurring violent conflicts, which pose significant barriers to the region’s economic and social transformation. Although existing studies predominantly explore how poverty fuels conflict, there has been comparatively less emphasis on how conflict, in turn, is shaped by poverty. Moreover, the current body of literature on the poverty–conflict nexus in SSA is limited in scope, largely empirical, and often focused on isolated country contexts. The present study adopts a scoping review methodology guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework to address this gap. The review’s findings underscore a bidirectional relationship between poverty and conflict, with strong evidence indicating that conflict exacerbates poverty while poverty contributes to the outbreak and persistence of conflict. In light of these interlinkages, there is an urgent need for policy frameworks that are both holistic and context-sensitive, capable of addressing the structural causes of poverty and fostering inclusive peacebuilding strategies across the region.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05120-3

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