Burkina Faso: locals vs. newcomers Tensions between old and new land laws fuel conflict in Burkina Faso Land disputes are causing strife throughout Burkina Faso. From the fertile south-west, across the central Mossi plateau and up to the eastern region bordering Niger, land feuds tear families apart and set clans against each other in this landlocked west African country. The conflicts arise because of rapid population growth (the average Burkinabe woman bears 5.7 children during her lifetime, according to 2012 World Bank figures), internal and cross-border migration, and soil degradation, all of which put pressure on the limited arable land.…
Eloise Bertrand
Burkina Faso: out with the old Will opposition parties work with the military in the transition government following the departure of Blaise Compaoré? Burkina Faso was recently rocked by massive protests that led to the resignation of long-serving president Blaise Compaoré and an army-led transition. As this magazine was going to press it was unclear who would form the transition government that the army had promised to put in place. Under Burkina Faso’s constitution, president of the Senate should take over after the president has resigned and an election should take place in 60 to 90 days. This provision, however,…
