Remodelage Identitaire des Personnes Déplacées Internes Au Burkina Faso

Abstract

In the face of forced displacement often caused by terrorism and violence, internally displaced persons (IDPs) are forced to reshape their identity to adapt to a new environment, often hostile and unfamiliar. This reflection is essential to understand the identity processes at play and the psychological resources that facilitate resilience and integration in a context of precarity. We conducted this study using a qualitative methodology combining semi-structured interviews with IDPs and community actors, as well as participatory observations. These methods allowed us to identify the stages of identity reconstruction: identity mourning marked by nostalgia for the former environment, the redefinition of values and beliefs, and finally integration into the new community. Our findings also reveal essential resilience mechanisms, such as community support and the maintenance of cultural and religious practices, which contribute to this transition. These results underline the importance of the interaction between individual and collective resources among IDPs, which promotes the reconstruction of identity despite socio-emotional adversity. This leads us to reconsider resilience not as a simple individual trait, but as a dynamic process. As a result, three approaches to intervention are emerging: psychological support focused on existing capacities, enhancement of community networks, and adaptive integration policies. These approaches can strengthen the resilience of IDPs and improve their psychological well-being.