The Land Tenure Issue in Community Integration and Reintegration in Burkina Faso

Abstract

In Burkina Faso, land tenure is a central issue in the dynamics of community integration and reintegration, especially in a context shaped by forced displacement resulting from security crises. Access to land, beyond its economic value, becomes a key factor for social recognition and stability. This article examines the tensions between customary land systems, which have historically maintained community balance, and modern legal frameworks that are often poorly suited to local realities. By analyzing rural territories and managed agricultural areas, the study highlights the wide range of land-related challenges, including the scarcity or abundance of resources, conflicts over land use, contested ownership, and the overlap between agricultural and pastoral activities. These tensions, intensified by population growth and socio-ecological changes, weaken reintegration processes, particularly for internally displaced persons. Public policies such as the Rural Development Strategy, the National Land Use Plan, and decentralization are ambitious but face structural obstacles. These include limited legal enforcement, slow progress in securing land rights, and a lack of coordination among state, local, and customary actors. The article argues for an inclusive approach to land management that combines legal security, recognition of local practices, and mechanisms for social and community-based mediation. This work demonstrates that land is much more than a technical issue. It is at the core of social integration, territorial balance, and national cohesion in Burkina Faso.