Côte d'Ivoire: in the North, social cohesion victim of terrorism
Audio 01:32
An Ivorian soldier stands guard during the Prime Minister's arrival in Tougbo on January 22, 2022. AFP - SIA KAMBOU
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2 mins
Saturday, January 22, Patrick Achi was in the north of Côte d'Ivoire to announce an investment plan of several billion CFA francs for young people in border regions.
Objective: to counter the advance of jihadism in these regions through the development and integration of young people.
The Prime Minister went to Tougbo, a sub-prefecture located 10 km from the Burkinabè border.
He stopped at Kafolo.
This small village of 2,000 inhabitants was hit twice by the jihadists in 2020 and 2021. Although the soldiers are permanently present there, life has changed profoundly over the past two years.
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With our special correspondent back from Tougbo,
Pierre Pinto
The prestigious hotel that attracted tourists to Kafolo has closed.
Agriculture and fishing are hardly possible anymore due to the ever-present jihadist threat.
Another consequence of the attacks: amalgamation and mistrust have affected social cohesion.
About 300 Fulani inhabitants left the village.
Often suspected of being accomplices with the jihadists who rage in the region, themselves mostly Fulani.
"
There were at least 6 to 10 people who were arrested regarding foreign Fulani owners of oxen,
" explains the village chief of Kafolo.
Following this, the people who were there, slowly - starting with the boys - all left.
So the wives followed their husbands.
Then there was a lot of mistrust.
We are still very suspicious.
»
40 km away, in the sub-prefecture of Tougbo, 25,000 inhabitants, the situation is different.
Sub-prefect Yssouf Dao ensures that distrust of the Fulani cannot take hold.
“
Since I arrived, I have toured all the villages to raise awareness of peaceful cohabitation with all populations, including the Fulani.
I believe there are many Fulani who are integrated.
You know, there are a lot of Fulani among the terrorists, the highway robbers, so there is inevitably mistrust.
I believe that with awareness, things are good.
»
For the past few months, Tougbo has seen an additional difficulty arrive: Burkinabè refugees who are fleeing terrorism on their side of the border.
They are 6,000 and continue to arrive.
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Ivory Coast
Terrorism