The report analyzes the upcoming 2025 Ivorian presidential election, marked by tension and recurring patterns of political confrontation. It highlights the absence of any peaceful transfer of power since 1995 a situation described as the “Ivorian paradox.” The controversy surrounding President Alassane Ouattara’s fourth-term bid, coupled with the exclusion of key opposition figures, fuels deep resentment and polarization. The report also points to the failure of political elites to establish genuine dialogue on electoral rules, as well as the revival of divisive identity politics related to nationality and “Ivoirité.” Despite steady economic growth, fragile institutions and low public trust increase the risk of instability. The election is therefore described as “high-risk,” with potential for major unrest if the process continues to be viewed as non-inclusive.

Cultural identity, Governance, Election, Political identity, Presidential term limits

The article titled “Forging Identity at Gunpoint: Violence and the Land Question in Mali” by Ibrahima Poudiougou and Giovanni Zanoletti, published in 2020 in the Revue internationale des études du développement, examines how violence has become a tool of public policy in Mali, especially in land-related conflicts. The authors focus on the deadly clash between the villages of Mougna and Kossouma on June 25, 2016, which resulted in about twenty deaths and forty injuries. Although jihadists were not directly involved, the event illustrates the increasing militarization of land disputes since the 2012 rebellion. The article explores how ethnic and religious narratives—especially references to “jihadism”—are used to frame these disputes. Ultimately, the study reveals how rural institutions and state authority are being challenged through violent reconfigurations of identity and power.

Pastoralism, Conflict, REAL ESTATE, Political identity