Espace de coopération transfrontalière Sourou (Burkina Faso-Mali), une territorialité construite autour de l’eau et de l’histoire des relations sociales
Abstract
The issue of consensual management of transboundary water resources has become imperative for West African states, given the historical nature of post-colonial borders and conflicting uses of resources on both sides of the border. It poses many challenges to the integrated management of water resources and the protection of biodiversity. Downstream and upstream of the Burkina-Mali border, the Sourou River crosses both states in its north-western part, and the exploitation of the river's water resources involves numerous stakeholders and various uses on both sides of the border. Whether used for agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, or supplying drinking water, the distribution of water has not always been a pleasant affair between stakeholders with divergent interests. In response, a cross-border committee for joint management of the basin's water resources has been set up by both states. In concrete terms, this agreement has served as a framework for launching a cross-border cooperation initiative between the local authorities bordering the Sourou River. This situation raises the issue of how concerted management of transboundary water resources contributes to the construction of a cooperative area, and how the management of such an area is organized. The main objective of this study is to analyze the role played by water resources in the construction of cross-border territorialities, using the Burkina-Mali interface as an example. The methodology involved a review of the literature on cross-border dynamics and the commons as well as interviews with cross-border stakeholders, and surveys conducted among local populations. The results provide an insight into the process of territorialization based on water resource management in border areas. Indeed, the first level of results shows that joint management of water resources has been a strong incentive for activating cross-border cooperation in the Sourou area. Many factors have contributed to this cooperation. These include the hydraulic developments carried out in Burkina Faso at the junction of the Sourou and Mouhoun rivers, which have led to an increase in the volumes of water in the Malian part of the Sourou. In addition, there are the environment and exploitation constraints of the basin's resources and the prospects for watershed development in the Malian part.The second level deals with the historic nature of social relations in the Sourou basin, marked by a territorialization/deterritorialization of space around water from pre-colonial times to the present day. Finally, the local border authorities in the watershed area have seized this opportunity to cooperate by setting up a local cross-border grouping known as “Groupement local de coopération transfrontalière C10Sourou” (GLCT/C10Sourou), which is structured around 10 border municipalities, including 4 on the Burkina Faso side and 6 in Mali, and has legal status and financial autonomy. Under the group's leadership, development initiatives are being implemented in the area.This grouping is structured around 10 border communes, including 4 on the Burkina Faso side and 6 in Mali, and has legal personality and financial autonomy. To this end, development actions are being implemented in this area, under the leadership of the group.
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