Environmental Peacebuilding Lessons from Burkina Faso (IN FRENCH)

Paul Oumarou Koalaga, Institut de Stratégie et de Relations Internationales (Burkina Faso)

In Northern Burkina Faso, the intersection of environment, climate, and peace is characterized by resource scarcity and degradation fueling conflict between farmers and herders, exacerbated by climate change-driven irregular rainfall and desertification. This instability provides fertile ground for extremist groups to recruit marginalized communities by promising access to resources, while weak governance and displacement further erode social cohesion and traditional resource management systems. Particularly, climate-induced migration, sometimes joining those displaced by conflict, can create new tensions and overburden local infrastructure in receiving communities.

This contribution discusses entry points for enhancing cooperation and peacebuilding in Northern Burkina Faso, which include strengthening local governance through inclusive planning, supporting community dialogues on resource management and conflict resolution, fostering economic opportunities for youth and host communities, providing peace education and early warning mechanisms. In addition, the integrating women and traditional leaders into peacebuilding efforts through their established roles in conflict resolution will be discussed.