Livestock production, including small ruminant keeping, constitutes an important component of urban agriculture throughout the world. Armed conflicts may influence agriculture and livestock production in particular, but the specific impact of armed conflicts on urban livestock production is not well documented for Africa. This paper analyses that impact on urban livestock keeping in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo. Brazzaville has experienced a series of armed conflicts since 1993; the most dramatic event in 1997 was a serious threat for the population and the livestock keepers. Two surveys, one before the war (1993) and one after the war (2002), indicate that the conflict had a negative impact on livestock keeping, as most livestock keepers lost their animals. Financial resources were an important factor in rebuilding the flock after 1997. Further factors related to restarting livestock activities were: past experience in livestock raising; location; being the owner of the plot; and possessing Congolese nationality.
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