Land Management in the Peripheries of Sub- Saharan African Cities: The Case of the 9th District of N'Djamena

Rapid urban growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in N’Djamena, has led to uncontrolled expansion toward the urban peripheries, characterized by informal urbanization beyond the control of public authorities. The 9th district of the Chadian capital perfectly illustrates this dynamic, marked by intense land pressure, a limited institutional supply of serviced plots, and fragile land governance. This study, based on a mixed-methods approach (surveys of 250 households, interviews, observation, and document analysis), reveals that nearly 90% of land acquisitions occur through informal—mainly customary—channels. Various actors are involved in this process: traditional chiefs (Bulama), former farmers, private individuals, informal intermediaries, and, to a lesser extent, certain public institutions whose roles remain marginal. Land speculation, combined with a lack of regulation, contributes to chronic land insecurity, the proliferation of conflicts, and growing urban segregation. Restructuring policies implemented remain sporadic and can even generate new vulnerabilities for affected populations. The study proposes a six-step model describing the empirical land acquisition process in N'Djamena and highlights the urgent need for an inclusive, context-sensitive land reform adapted to local realities, to ensure more controlled, sustainable, and equitable urbanization.