Abstract
This paper investigates the changing mobility practices of pastoralists in Sudan as they seek to sustain their livelihoods. The study focuses on the Fallata pastoralists in Gadarif State, eastern Sudan, as a case study to demonstrate these changes. Traditionally relying on long-distance movements to seasonal grazing areas, much of it across communal grazing lands, to access seasonal grazing areas, these pastoralists now face significant challenges due to the expansion of mechanized agriculture, land privatization, and environmental degradation. Using a mixed-methods approach—incorporating interviews, field observations, remote sensing, and participatory geographical information systems (PGIS)—the research reveals that the Fallata pastoralists have adapted to fragmented landscapes through a range of coping and adaptive strategies, including localized and intermediate-scale movements, seasonal east-west shifts toward riverine and border areas, the use of truck transport for livestock, and increasing integration with farming activities. Some occasionally cross the border into Ethiopia to access grazing and water resources. These evolving practices reflect a flexible and resilient response to land-use constraints, resource scarcity, and insecurity in eastern Sudan. However, some of the coping strategies carry economic risks and potential social and ecological impacts. These findings highlight the urgent need for policy reforms that support sustainable pastoral mobility and conflict resolution, grounded in the specific experiences of the Fallata pastoralists. By reflecting the realities of fragmented landscapes, negotiated access, and adaptive strategies, the study contributes to the growing debate on what makes nomadic pastoralist land-use systems resilient under conditions of climate change and uncertainty.