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L'eau, une bénédiction et une malédiction: comment résoudre les conflits liés à l'eau en Afrique de l'Ouest?

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  • Kohnert, Dirk

Abstract

Pour de nombreux Africains, l'eau n'est pas seulement la source de la vie, mais aussi un moyen de purification et un centre de régénération. Les rituels et les cultes de l'eau, tels que «Mami Wata», conduisent leurs adeptes à la libération du corps et de l'esprit. Mais les rites coutumiers peuvent aussi causer des dommages. Par exemple, l'utilisation ancestrale de l'irrigation réduit la participation contemporaine des femmes au travail et les droits de propriété des femmes. Il est crucial de prendre en compte le genre dans la gestion des ressources dans le contexte du changement climatique, de la dégradation de l'environnement et de la croissance démographique, ce qui exacerbera les conflits sur les ressources rares telles que les terres arables, l'eau, la pêche et la chasse. Une mauvaise gouvernance conduit à l'aliénation et à l'exploitation de la majorité et à une inégalité croissante, en particulier lorsque l'eau est rare et que les moyens de subsistance des populations sont menacés. L'Afrique subsaharienne est le continent le plus touché par le changement climatique, la croissance démographique et l'insécurité alimentaire. Pourtant, les États africains, où les écosystèmes aquatiques sont des ressources stratégiques, sont plus enclins aux conflits régionaux qu'à la coopération. Dans le passé, les chocs liés au climat ont alimenté des conflits violents en Afrique de l'Ouest. La pression foncière et la rareté de l'eau provoquent des crises de plus en plus aiguës. Les institutions traditionnelles de gestion de l'eau et des terres sont souvent déstabilisées par les techniques modernes d'irrigation et les entrées massives de capitaux étrangers. La modernisation est portée par un utilitarisme centré sur l'Occident qui ne peut être universalisé. L'intensification des conflits autour de l'eau a révélé une crise générale qui risque de s'aggraver compte tenu des dynamiques à l'œuvre. La dégradation de l'environnement est l'un des sous-produits indésirables de la croissance de la productivité agricole, mais les institutions coutumières ne peuvent fournir une réglementation adéquate pour atténuer ses effets. Mais même dans les régions d'Afrique de l'Ouest où l'eau est abondante, la malédiction des ressources lie l'abondance des ressources naturelles à des niveaux de conflit plus élevés. La commercialisation de l'eau, y compris l'accaparement des terres et de l'eau, peut même conduire à des conflits interétatiques par les effets de la cupidité ou des griefs. En fin de compte, cependant, les conflits ne portent souvent pas tant sur l'accès à des ressources rares telles que l'eau, la nourriture ou la terre, mais plutôt sur la modification des institutions politiques par lesquelles les ressources sont distribuées. La pénurie d'eau exerce une pression sur les populations, entraînant des migrations, des déplacements, l'insécurité alimentaire et l'appauvrissement, ce qui peut conduire à de nouveaux conflits.

Suggested Citation

  • Kohnert, Dirk, 2023. "L'eau, une bénédiction et une malédiction: comment résoudre les conflits liés à l'eau en Afrique de l'Ouest?," EconStor Preprints 300925, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300925
    DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8197101
    Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Water as a blessing and a curse: How to address water conflicts in West Africa?
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. van Schilfgaarde, Jan, 1994. "Irrigation -- a blessing or a curse," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 203-219, July.
    2. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "The impact of Russian presence in Africa," MPRA Paper 112564, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Kohnert, Dirk, 2022. "Machine ethics and African identities: Perspectives of artificial intelligence in Africa," MPRA Paper 113799, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Marchiori, Luca & Maystadt, Jean-François & Schumacher, Ingmar, 2012. "The impact of weather anomalies on migration in sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(3), pages 355-374.
    5. Zwarteveen, Margreet Z., 1997. "Water: From basic need to commodity: A discussion on gender and water rights in the context of irrigation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(8), pages 1335-1349, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    pénurie de l'eau; changement climatique; rites de l'eau; institutions coutumières; accaparement de l'eau; Afrique de l'Ouest; I31;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D18 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Protection
    • D46 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Value Theory
    • E26 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Informal Economy; Underground Economy
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F54 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Colonialism; Imperialism; Postcolonialism
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • N47 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Africa; Oceania
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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