Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the relationship between peacebuilding and the recognition of traditional authorities in Côte d’Ivoire. It addresses the role of the recently established ‘Chambre des Rois et des Chefs Traditionnels de Côte d’Ivoire’ in mitigating land conflict in the Bounkani region.

Paper long abstract:

Existing scholarship on (neo)customary institutions in Africa highlights the enduring influence of ‘traditional’ authority structures on economic development, democratization and local governance. Whether viewed as ‘decentralized despots’ or ‘development brokers’, traditional authorities are formidable political actors. Beyond their contentious participation in democratic and developmental affairs, they are also deeply involved in the governance of land. Considering their history of managing – yet also fueling – conflicts over land, they clearly play a complex role in the peacebuilding arena. This paper explores the politics around the recognition of traditional authorities in a peacebuilding context. In so doing, it considers the following questions: Under what conditions are (neo)customary governance structures recognized by the state in post-conflict contexts? How might the recognition of these authorities influence peacebuilding processes, social cohesion, and the resolution of land conflicts? The paper examines these questions through the case of post-conflict Côte d’Ivoire. Specifically, it addresses the role of the recently established ‘Chambre des Rois et des Chefs Traditionnels de Côte d’Ivoire’, created in 2016 by the government of Alassane Ouattara to constitutionally formalize customary authorities as partners in governance. Importantly, this development has triggered divisive debates over authority and land use. The Bounkani region in Northeastern Côte d’Ivoire provides a case in point, where the Lobi community have recently created a centralized chieftaincy and lobbied for its recognition by the new customary body. Drawing upon insights from recent fieldwork, we thus explore the politics of this constitutional change and the wider implications for peacebuilding in Côte d’Ivoire.