What You Need to Know
Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast are working to restore their historical relations after tensions arose following the military coup in Burkina Faso. Recent diplomatic meetings between officials from both countries indicate a commitment to rebuilding trust and cooperation, despite previous accusations of destabilization and border tensions.
Africa. A statement from the Burkina Faso Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast are working to restore the historical relations that bind the two countries after tensions arose following the rise of Captain Ibrahim Traoré to power in Ouagadougou.
Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, met with the Ivorian Minister Delegate for African Integration and Ivoirians Abroad, Adama Boussou, who was visiting Ouagadougou.
Traoré stated, “We spoke as brothers, openly and honestly. I believe we have taken an important step that needs to be strengthened,” announcing plans for “close work to build trust” between the two sides. The Ivorian minister affirmed, according to the statement, that “the two countries are like two lungs of a single economic and social body, connected by history and geography,” noting that “the relations between the two countries are historical, with intertwined populations living on both sides of the border.”
Since the military coup in Burkina Faso in September 2022, the new military regime in Ouagadougou has repeatedly accused its neighbor Ivory Coast of attempting to destabilize the country, a claim that Abidjan denies.
The two countries are separated by a border that stretches 600 kilometers but is not clearly demarcated, leading to occasional tensions and arrests on either side of the border.
In August, Burkina Faso authorities arrested six Ivorian officials after accusing them of espionage for illegally entering Burkina Faso. However, Ivory Coast firmly denies these accusations.
In July, one of the influencers close to the military council in Burkina Faso was found dead while in custody at a gendarmerie school in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, on charges of “collaborating with agents of a foreign state.”
Burkina Faso has been suffering from violence perpetrated by armed groups for about ten years, resulting in over 25,000 deaths and the displacement of around two million people, with Ivory Coast hosting about 70,000 of them, including 35,000 in the border region of Bounkani alone, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast share a complex history marked by cultural and economic ties, as well as border disputes. The relationship has been strained since the military coup in Burkina Faso in September 2022, which led to accusations against Ivory Coast of interference. Despite these tensions, both nations recognize the importance of their historical connections and the need for collaboration.
The border between Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast spans approximately 600 kilometers and is often a source of conflict due to its unclear demarcation. Over the past decade, Burkina Faso has faced significant violence from armed groups, resulting in thousands of deaths and millions displaced, with a
