Refugees from Sudan and Burkina Faso face significant challenges upon arrival in Chad and Côte d'Ivoire, driven primarily by violence and instability impacting their home countries. The continuous stream of refugees, particularly from Sudan's Darfur region, has heightened the burden on already strained local resources and elicited varying responses from the governments of Chad and Côte d'Ivoire.
Daily, Chad sees the inflow of Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict between the national army and rebel forces, particularly the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Upon arrival, most refugees prefer staying close to the border, aiming to remain as proximate to their homeland as possible, even as the humanitarian organizations struggle to relieve overcrowding at refugee sites. While the refugees attempt to find some semblance of normalcy, efforts to assist them are met with significant hurdles.
Equally, the crisis extends to Côte d'Ivoire, where refugees from Burkina Faso, fleeing violence perpetrated by armed groups and militias, possess similarly dire circumstances. Many, like Aminatou Sidibé and her family, have witnessed unthinkable tragedies, such as losing nine relatives during attacks by local militia known as Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP). "We are not close to returning home. Our villages continue to be attacked by armed groups," Aminatou reflected from her precarious refuge.
Since 2021, over 243,000 Burkinabé have sought safety across the border, with nearly 70,000 seeking asylum in Côte d'Ivoire alone. While the Ivorian government has constructed two transit centers to address their needs, these facilities can only accommodate about 12,000 individuals, leading many refugees to rely on community solidarity for shelter. The burden on local infrastructure is growing, making the situation ever more precarious.
Adding to the refugees' plight, financial support has drastically diminished. Monthly assistance from the UNHCR for Burkinabé refugees was recently slashed from 10,000 CFA (approximately €15) to 5,000 CFA (around €7.60). The reduced aid covers barely 35% of basic food needs, creating greater hardships. A Western humanitarian worker noted, "The aid has decreased because the Ivorian government does not recognize there is a refugee crisis. This has complicated efforts to secure funding."
Compounding existing struggles, the recent announcement of U.S. government funding freezes for the UNHCR has posed disastrous operational changes amid increased financial requirements. Olivier Beer, UNHCR’s representative, voiced grave concerns stating, "We suffer from drastic decreases in funding this year."
Local tensions are also on the rise, as enduring communal friction exacerbates the situation. Particularly illustrative is the plight of Binsare Hien, the head of the local Lobi community, who expressed frustration over refugees' livestock ravaging his community's crops. "Refugees' animals eat everything we plant. For now, we manage to settle these conflicts through mediation, but the anger among farmers is rising," he cautioned as food insecurity mounts.
After fleeing violence, refugees face new challenges, including increased rents and food prices, attributed to their presence. Adrahmane Dicko, the chief of the Peule community, also echoed concerns about daily water cuts and rising food prices, noting costs had surged significantly since the refugees' arrival.
Although the Ivorian government maintains strict surveillance over refugee status, the bureaucratic processing available remains inadequate. Currently, Burkinabé refugees can apply for asylum status, yet many are left considered merely as economic migrants. A UNHCR official assured, "The document is on the government’s table; it will be signed in the coming weeks," though refugees have grown increasingly skeptical about the reality of their situation.
Political dynamics worsen the refugee issue, as relations remain fraught with Burkina Faso's junta government. The Ivorian administration fears misuse of the refugee situation as electoral leverage by the opposition parties and strives to crack down on any voiced concerns by locals linking refugees to insecurity.
Local authorities are anxious about the potential labeling of the Peule community as involved with criminal activities, which could mirror the violent situation currently tormenting Burkina Faso. With increasing periodic violence at the border, the government cracks down harder on entries, fearing terrorist infiltration.
Despite Côte d'Ivoire's attempts to stay effectively insulated from the regional terrorist threat, the pressures of housing thousands of refugees—one half of whom are Burkinabé—continues to mount. Concurrently alarming is the rise of hostility toward this vulnerable population through misinformation propelling unfounded fears surrounding their involvement with crime.
The urgency for meaningful responses to the challenges confronting both refugees and host communities is more pressing than ever. With socioeconomic conditions dwindling and humanitarian support waning, the government and international agencies must act decisively to mitigate this multifaceted crisis, for both the well-being of the refugees and the stability of host communities.