Dr. Ibrahima Poudiougou is a researcher and lecturer at Noragric, the Department of International Environment and Development Studies at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). His academic work is deeply interdisciplinary, drawing from anthropology, political science, and development studies, with a strong geographical focus on West Africa, particularly Mali and the Sahel region.
Dr. Poudiougou’s research examines the intricate relationships between land tenure, armed violence, identity politics, and historical memory. He has conducted extensive fieldwork on jihadist and self-defense militias, land dispossession, and the socio-political dynamics of rural communities affected by conflict. His scholarship offers critical insights into how violence and contested histories shape local governance, migration patterns, and resistance movements.
In parallel with his research, Dr. Poudiougou is an active educator. He teaches the Political Ecology course in the Master’s program in International Environmental Studies at NMBU. In this role, he engages students in critical discussions on the power relations embedded in environmental issues, encouraging them to explore how ecological challenges intersect with questions of justice, sovereignty, and development.
Selected Publications