Migration and translocality in Burkina Faso: Characteristics, practices and impacts on development

Abstract

Burkina Faso is characterized by the mobility of its population in time and space. This mobility, which dates back to pre-colonial times, was particularly amplified during the colonial period. Whether domestic or international, migration has socio-economic, political and environmental impacts. Analysed from a translocal perspective, the maintenance of multiple and multifaceted links between the area of departure and that of the destination in a reciprocal manner leads to multiple transformations. This research aims to contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of translocal migration in Burkina Faso. To this end, a quantitative and qualitative survey was conducted from 1 to 15 June 2022 in rural communes in the provinces of Kouritenga, Boulkiemdé and Ioba. The study shows that rural migrants mainly go to large urban centers, including Ouagadougou (53.8%) and Bobo-Dioulasso (12.8%) on the one hand, and international migrants mainly to Côte d’Ivoire (79.1%) and Mali (8.6%), on the other. In addition, most migrants are in constant contact with members of the household of origin. This contact is maintained by the multidirectional mobility of household members. This involves telephone contacts, transfers in kind (movable property) or cash transfers (remittances), exchanges of ideas and skills for the benefit of the household of origin and finally facilitating the migration of other household members and assimilated. These so-called translocal practices have effects on households as well as on the community as a whole.