Ivory Coast expels 89 Malian, Burkinabé and Niger nationals

In total, there are 89 citizens, originally from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, who were arrested in Bouaké (Côte d'Ivoire) and returned last Thursday to the Yendéré border post "without reasons", indicated the Burkina Information Agency (AIB), last Friday. 

According to the AIB, citing corroborating sources, these are nationals of the Alliance of States for the Sahel (AES) countries, notably 64 Burkinabè, 24 Nigeriens and 1 Malian. They were apprehended by the Ivorian police on the night of February 13 to 14, 2024 in Bouaké. 

These citizens were taken in the middle of the day on February 15, 2024 to the Yendéré border post (Burkina Faso), without any reason being notified to them, says the AIB. 

This sudden expulsion raises many questions as to the reasons which pushed the Ivorian authorities to act in this way. The citizens concerned found themselves completely helpless in the face of this unexpected situation. 

The expulsion of 89 citizens from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from Côte d'Ivoire to Burkina Faso, without any explanation or official reason, was described as an "arbitrary and inhumane act" by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), according to an announcement made on February 16. 

Will the countries concerned apply the reciprocity measure as they did with States? The coming days will edify us more.