Tenkodogo: Users of the Zourma dam, in the commune of Zabre (Nakambe region), have adopted and validated a concerted management agreement for this strategic resource. The result of an inclusive dialogue process conducted with the support of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), this consensual framework aims to reduce recurring tensions surrounding the operation of the dam, while preserving social cohesion and the sustainability of the infrastructure.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the initiative originated from a mission conducted from June 23 to 26, 2025, which identified existing rules, user categories, and the main factors of conflict surrounding the dam. Surveys, interviews, and focus groups conducted in six villages and hamlets revealed that this aging but heavily used reservoir was used by nine user categories (fishermen, market gardeners, livestock farmers, etc.), often in competition for access to water and the surrounding land.
Faced with the deteriorating social climate, the Zabre special delegation contacted the HD to support the development of a local agreement. This approach is part of the actions carried out by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue in the Nakambe region since 2024, through the agropastoral mediation project, which has already helped resolve several dozen conflicts related to natural resources and strengthen networks of community mediators.
From September 2 to 4, 2025, a negotiation meeting in Tenkodogo brought together user representatives, traditional leaders, local elected officials, technical services, and administrative authorities. Participants amended and validated a draft agreement. The rules, previously communicated orally, are now recorded in a written document, serving as a common reference. A management committee and a monitoring committee have also been established to ensure the agreement’s implementation. Representing the Governor of Nakambe, the High Commissioner of Boulgou, Domegb¨gui¨re Constantin Dabire, welcomed a process that “places communities at the heart of the management and concerted use of resources,” while emphasizing that the agreement respects local practices and aligns with national legislation.
For his part, Moussa Tall, head of the HD office in Burkina Faso, welcomed the signing of the first local agreement supported by his organization in the country: “These instruments are levers for conflict prevention and strengthening social cohesion. We remain available to support other communities in the implementation of similar agreements.” On behalf of the customary chiefdom, Harouna Gouba, representative of Naaba Kougri of Zabre, insisted on the responsibility of users: “They themselves defined the rules and they must apply them. When it is written down, it encourages greater respect.”
As for Boubie Alain Bassomo, president of the Zabre special delegation, he recalled that the community was behind the initiative: “After noting the risks to social cohesion, we contacted the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue. Our responsibility is now to monitor the implementation of this charter for the benefit of the local economy and the well-being of the population.” All speakers recognized the decisive role of the technical services, which supported the communities throughout the process, from the diagnosis to the signing of the agreement.
The validation of the local agreement for the management of the Zourma Dam marks an important step in preventing conflicts related to natural resources in Burkina Faso. By directly involving communities, authorities, and technical partners, the process provides a framework for shared and sustainable governance. For the people of Zabre, this initiative constitutes both a regulatory and mediation mechanism, but also a tool for preserving social cohesion and promoting local development. As Moussa Tall pointed out, “the challenge is for this agreement to live and truly benefit users.”
The success of this experiment opens the way to the duplication of similar initiatives in other municipalities in the Nakambe region and beyond, where natural resources represent both wealth and a source of tension.