The Burkina Faso government has expressed regret following the deportation of 164 of its nationals who sought refuge in Ivory Coast.
This incident occurs amidst ongoing efforts to support the 60,000 Burkina Faso residents who have fled their country due to unrest since 2021. While some refugees are accommodated in government-run reception centers, many are housed by local families.
On July 13, 2024, a group of 173 Burkina Faso citizens—mostly women and children, along with about fifty men—arrived in Ouangolodougou, Ivory Coast. Seven members of the group registered their livestock with local authorities. However, without an official explanation, 164 of the refugees were deported back to Burkina Faso three days later. Local sources suggest that the refugees’ refusal to register with the authorities may have led to their expulsion.
During a Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, Burkina Faso’s government spokesperson, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, condemned the deportations as a violation of humanitarian principles. In response, the Minister of Humanitarian Action for Burkina Faso traveled to Niangoloko to provide assistance and supplies to those affected. The Ivorian government, which has been supporting asylum seekers for nearly three years, stated that the expulsion was an isolated incident.
