Ouahigouya: A 20-hectare plot of land known as the ‘Salif Diallo Grove’ in Ouahigouya, originally intended for a gum arabic plantation, is at the center of a contentious land dispute. Individuals claiming to be the rightful landowners have begun dividing and selling the land, despite warnings from authorities, according to a report by L’Observateur Paalga.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the land was initially designated for a gum arabic plantation project launched in 1996 by the late Salifou Diallo, then Minister of the Environment. Funded by the European Union, the project aimed to support the forestry sector’s role in poverty alleviation by exporting gum arabic to Europe and the United States. However, following the end of funding in 2004, the project faltered, and the land was largely abandoned.
In recent years, the plantation suffered as trees were destroyed by internally displaced persons using them for firewood. Despite attempts by Diallo’s political affiliates to revive the land, the Koglew
eogo Association, initially responsible for the project, transferred the land back to the Ouahigouya commune due to financial constraints. However, municipal authorities discovered that much of the land had been occupied by residential houses, leaving only 7 hectares untouched.
The situation escalated in August 2024 when individuals claiming ownership of the land began dividing it into plots for sale. Two city districts, Soumyaga and Souli, reportedly allocated themselves 3 hectares each and granted 1 hectare to Diallo’s family. A government mission, including the Minister of Urban Planning and the Minister of the Environment, attempted to mediate, suggesting a delay in actions to reach a consensus. Despite this, construction commenced swiftly, with plots offered for sale, as noted by L’Observateur Paalga.