A/HRC/28/64/Add.2 participants strongly advocated for a “residence clause”, whereby specific residency requirements based on length of residence in a region replaced the indigene/settler dichotomy. B. Minority groups in the Middle Belt region 25. The Special Rapporteur visited Plateau and Kaduna States, comprising the so-called “Middle Belt” region, a central area characterized by its ethnic and religious diversity. The region, and particularly Plateau and Kaduna States, have been the scene of several violent intercommunal clashes among ethnic and religious communities over the past decades, resulting in over 10,000 deaths since 1992.9 The terrorist group Boko Haram has recently been responsible for numerous deadly attacks across the country, particularly in the North and the Middle Belt, including bomb attacks resulting in more than 2,000 deaths in the first half of 2014 alone.10 26. In the course interviews, including with security forces, representatives of the National Human Rights Commission headquarters in Jos and Kaduna, Plateau State authorities, Muslim and Christian leaders and victims of intercommunal violence, the Special Rapporteur was informed that the root causes of the intercommunal episodes of violence are diverse, complex and intertwined, involving the issue of indigenes/settlers, competition for resources, climate change, poverty, good governance deficits, partisan politics, impunity and the use of ethno-religious dimensions for political purposes, given that in many situations ethnic and religious identity overlap. 27. The distinction between indigenes and settlers has played a significant role in the conflicts in the Middle Belt. In Plateau and Kaduna States, some ethnic groups who have lived in the region for generations are still regarded as settlers and therefore cannot benefit from certain economic and social opportunities. In Plateau State, indigene ethnic groups are mainly Christian, while Muslim Hausa-Fulani residents and pastoralists are regarded as settlers. Disputes include competing claims to indigene status, inequality in access to politics owing to the difficulties and/or impossibility to run for elections for settlers, the use of land and access to university education and scholarships, where indigenes have preferential treatment. 28. Civil society representatives in Jos stressed that, in most places, there are no legal provisions prohibiting the political participation of settlers at the local and state levels, but there is “a social prohibition”, owing to the fear of indigene communities that settlers will augment their power by running for elections. This prohibition, which would ignite feelings of frustration and resentment, was identified as a relevant trigger of violence. Civil society actors stated that political interference and the imposition of Government-favoured candidates over more popular candidates can provoke violence if the pro-Government candidate wins. The need for good governance as a mean to lessen tensions was repeatedly emphasized. 29. During the consultations held in Plateau and Kaduna States, it was commonly stated that the economic aspect of the situation of disadvantaged minority groups could not be underestimated when analysing the root causes of the conflicts in the Middle-Belt region. High levels of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy were identified as concrete socioeconomic issues contributing to fuelling intercommunal violence. The lack of social 9 10 Human Rights Watch, Leave Everything to God, Accountability for Intercommunal Violence in Plateau and Kaduna States, Nigeria (2013), available from www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/nigeria1213_ForUpload.pdf. See www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/15/nigeria-boko-haram-kills-2053-civilians-6-months. 9