Burkina Faso Regrets Deportation of 164 Citizens from Ivory Coast

In Summary

• The Burkinabe government expressed regret over the deportation of 164 citizens from Ivory Coast amid ongoing refugee accommodation efforts.
• A group of 173 Burkinabe arrived in Ivory Coast, but 164 were deported back without explanation.
• Local sources suggest deportations were due to failure to register and concerns over security.
• The Ivorian government calls the deportation an isolated measure, reaffirming its commitment to assisting asylum seekers.

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso- The Burkinabe government has expressed regret over the deportation of 164 of its citizens, who recently sought refuge in Ivory Coast. This comes amid ongoing efforts to accommodate the 60,000 Burkinabe who have fled instability in their homeland since 2021. Many of these refugees are hosted by local families, while others are housed in government-established reception centers.

On July 13, 2024, a group of 173 Burkinabe, predominantly women, children, and about fifty men, arrived in Ouangolodougou, Ivory Coast. Seven members of the group reported to local authorities to register their livestock. However, three days later, 164 of the refugees were deported back to Burkina Faso without any official explanation.

Local sources suggest the deportations were due to the refugees' failure to register with authorities and concerns over potential migratory influxes and security infiltrations.

Ivorian Government Calls Deportation an “Isolated Measure”

Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, spokesperson for the Burkinabe government, condemned the deportations as a violation of humanitarian principles during a Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday. In response, Burkina Faso's Minister of Humanitarian Action visited Niangoloko to provide support and supplies to the affected individuals.

The Ivorian government insists that the deportation was an isolated incident and reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to assisting asylum seekers, a practice it has maintained for nearly three years.