Ressources naturelles partagées et enjeux de gouvernance transfrontalière en Afrique de l’Ouest

Résumé Fr En

L’analyse s’intéresse à la relation frontières-ressources naturelles partagées prenant en compte le contexte des changements environnementaux dans deux zones transfrontalières situées en Afrique de l’Ouest. La région est fortement concernée aussi bien par la question des frontières que celle des changements climatiques dans un contexte de croissance démographique et de pression sur les ressources naturelles dans les zones frontalières. L’article repose sur la mobilisation de la littérature des border studies et la réalisation de nombreux entretiens semi-directifs auprès de divers acteurs. Ses résultats révèlent que les ressources naturelles constituent des supports de construction de territoires transfrontaliers dans le Kossi (Burkina Faso) - Tominian (Mali) et le Dendi-Ganda (Bénin-Niger-Nigéria) et favorisent la mise en place d’organismes locaux de coopération transfrontalière comme le Groupement local de coopération transfrontalière et le Cadre de concertation transfrontalière. Ces structures, à travers leur fonctionnement, articulent les échelles communautaires (convention de l’Union Africaine sur la coopération transfrontalière), bilatérale (accord-cadre bilatéral de coopération transfrontalière), transfrontalière (convention locale transfrontalière de gestion des ressources naturelles) et nationale (politiques de gestion des frontières, code des collectivités territoriales). Elles constituent des instances dynamiques de gouvernance de leurs territoires transfrontaliers et en particulier des ressources naturelles partagées. Cependant, le caractère exogène de leurs financements et la faible institutionnalisation de la coopération transfrontalière ainsi que les questions politiques et réglementaires au niveau national constituent de véritables défis à leur pérennisation.

The analysis focuses on the relationship between borders and shared natural resources, considering the context of environmental change in two cross-border areas in West Africa. The region is strongly affected by both borders and climate change, in a context of demographic growth and pressure on natural resources in border areas. The article is based on the mobilization of the literature of border studies differently treated based on a multidisciplinary approach. This contribution looks at natural resources, both as a means of delimiting borders and as a cause of border disputes between States. It also looks at scientific papers dealing with the issue of “cross-border governance of shared natural resources”, with the establishment of catchment management bodies in many cross-border areas in developing countries, in West Africa and Mesoamerica, and “territorial construction”.In addition to this extensive literature, the methodological approach encompasses empirical elements drawn from semi-directive interviews conducted between August 2021 and February 2022 in the two areas and at national level with stakeholders involved in the governance of cross-border regions. The interviews focused on the operation and actions of the LCCA and the CCF, the challenges associated with the use of natural resources, the management of environmental change and the sustainability of cross-border governance arrangements. Lastly, the methodology is also based on participatory observations that provide a better understanding of certain processes linked to cross-border territoriality, the use of natural resources and potential conflicts.The findings show that natural resources are segments of construction of cross-border territories in the Kossi (Burkina Faso) - Tominian (Mali) and Dendi-Ganda (Benin-Niger-Nigeria) regions and favour the establishment of local cross-border cooperation bodies such as the Local Cross-border Cooperation Association (LCCA) and the Cross-border Consultation Framework (CCF). Through their operation, these bodies structure the community level (African Union convention on cross-border cooperation), the bilateral level (bilateral framework agreement on cross-border cooperation), the cross-border level (local cross-border agreement on natural resource management) and the national level (border management policies, decentralisation, and local governments act). They serve as dynamic bodies for the governance of their cross-border regions including shared natural resources. However, the exogenous nature of their funding and the low level of institutionalisation of cross-border cooperation, as well as political and regulatory issues at national level, represent real challenges to their sustainability.