The ambiguous development: new projects on the land but for whom? Reflections on the Malian case study The paper focuses on the new season of big irrigation projects and their impacts on local territories of the Sahelo-sudanese belt. By analyzing the role of the Malian State and its new development cooperation policies, we want to highlight some elements of ambiguity and certain less visible mechanisms, deeply hidden behind the public declarations of land offer. Keywords: Big irrigation projects, development policies, role of the State, land grabbing, Office du Niger (Mali).