La Politique extérieure d'un royaume africain: le Yatênga au xixe siècle

The foreign policy of an African kingdom: Yatenga in the 19th century.- In the second half of the 19th century, the northern Mosi kingdom of Yatenga under Naaba Kango (1757-1787) asserts its power over several small kingdoms within the borders of Mosiland. Its influence spreads over the borders into Samo and Dogon, to the west and north, while, to the north-east, it colonizes the Kurumba villages outside Fulani-ruled Jelgoji. Towards the mid-19th century Yatenga's efforts to change the balance of power between the Mosi kingdoms bring about the incorporation of Risyam. On the other hand military successes against Yako will result only into political failures. From 1820 on Yatenga's foreign policy is defined in reaction to the aims of Seku Amadu's Masina kingdom upon Jelgoji. Yatenga seeks, firstly, to contain Seku Amadu and to prevent a Fulani secession within its own borders, and secondly, passes itself as a protector of the Jelgobe in order to get a footing in their territory -- a policy they will defeat by outsmarting both Masina and Yatenga. By the end of the 19th century, with the French on the verge of conquering the Niger bend hinterland, Yatenga remains in firm control of its traditional zone of influence but has been unable to achieve any territorial expansion. Its failure in Jelgoji, to the east, is only feebly compensated by its western alliance with the small Barani emirate. Still it preserves a reputation of military invincibility, which will not survive the first French onslaught.