Six Ivorians working for a government refugee office were reportedly kidnapped and taken across the border by Burkinabe civilian volunteers. The incident occurred near the northeastern border, a porous stretch spanning nearly 600 kilometres and long marked by tension.
Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso have exchanged accusations since a 2022 coup brought Captain Ibrahim Traore to power in Ouagadougou. The abducted workers belong to DAARA, tasked with assisting refugees and stateless persons in the border region, a local deputy said. They had been visiting a village to identify refugees when members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland seized them.
The VDP is known for supporting Burkina Faso’s military in combating jihadist insurgents across the Sahel region. Neither Ivory Coast nor Burkina Faso has issued an official statement regarding the abductions, leaving families anxious and authorities silent.
More than 80,000 refugees from Burkina Faso have fled to Ivory Coast, escaping violence by jihadists or abuses by volunteer militias. Separately, unidentified armed men killed four villagers overnight Sunday to Monday in northeastern Ivory Coast, the army confirmed on Tuesday.
The local deputy stressed there appeared to be no connection between the deadly attack and the refugee office kidnappings. Tensions along this fragile border highlight the ongoing insecurity and delicate diplomacy between two West African neighbours.
The region’s humanitarian crisis deepens as civilians remain vulnerable to violence from both insurgents and armed local forces. The kidnappings underscore the risks faced by aid workers attempting to provide relief amid mounting regional instability and fear.
