Social Movements in the Renegotiation of the Bases for Citizenship in West Africa

Abstract

This article analyses youth movements in the renegotiation of national belonging and citizenship rights in conflict and post-conflict situations, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire, and in rural development initiatives in the Gambia. In one case, an urban-based movement of ‘young patriots’, with rural variants, is contesting peace accords signed in Paris and claiming to defend the ‘constitutional legality’ of their country coming out of a civil war said to have been engineered by ‘foreigners’ who include descendants of immigrants from neighbouring countries. In the second case, youth associations aiming at improving living conditions in rural Gambia are initiating numerous projects and literally running their villages. In both cases, the article argues, there is a struggle for effective citizenship rights as the very bases of true citizenship are being renegotiated, and a quest for meaningful lives among a largely marginalized youth.