Rural Land in Burkina Faso between Decentralization and Agrarian Reforms

This chapter explores the transformative impact of decentralization and land reforms on rural land management in Burkina Faso. Focusing on the shift from centralized state control to community-based governance, the study highlights the challenges and implications of implementing these reforms in a centralized context characterized by legal pluralism. By analyzing Burkina Faso's experience, the paper provides insights into the complexities of land tenure security, the role of local institutions, and the broader implications for sustainable land governance. Following an exploration of both the decentralization and the rural land reforms, the chapter turns to their three main consequences on land ownership and management: the individualization of land tenure, the redefinition of state property, and the emergence of a local public property. The findings contribute significantly to the literature on land management and public administration, and are relevant to similar contexts in Africa, particularly in former French colonies, with common legal and regulatory characteristics.