As incursions by Burkinabe Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) increase in northeastern Ivory Coast, the Abidjan government is prioritizing military restraint in the face of the porous border. This tense situation is exacerbated by rising criminal activity.

Northeastern Ivory Coast is on high alert under pressure from the VDP (Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland).

Tensions remain high in the Téhini department of Côte d'Ivoire, where incursions by Burkinabe elements have become commonplace. The most recent incident occurred on October 29 in Handa, where a contingent of the Burkinabe army and its VDP auxiliaries crossed the undemarcated border. The Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FACI) quickly intervened, forcing the intruders to withdraw—a now-familiar sequence of events in this border area.

These incursions are not isolated. VDP movements have been reported near Kielo-Korenko and Kodagninin. October 27th already brought an alert: 30 to 40 men on motorcycles, identified as VDP, attempted to force their way through Handa, provoking an exchange of fire with Ivorian soldiers before being forced to retreat.

Between gold panning, kidnappings, and the doctrine of non-escalation

These military tensions are compounded by a surge in cross-border crime in the Téhini department. Networks are active in trafficking petroleum products and various goods, not to mention illegal gold mining, a widespread activity in this mining region. The discovery in June of a significant gold deposit in Doropo highlights the economic importance of this area.

At the highest levels of government, Defense Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, General Lassina Doumbia, are leading the response. The strategic approach, according to a military source, is clear: avoid direct confrontation, as Ouagadougou is allegedly deliberately seeking to provoke a regional escalation.

The ambiguous situation also allows for targeted operations against Ivorian structures. Six DAARA agents, responsible for registering Burkinabè refugees, were abducted in Tougbo on August 24 and transferred to Ouagadougou, suspected of espionage. Furthermore, the occupation of two villages by the VDP since February (Moussokantou and Kalmondjan) illustrates the ongoing pressure on the ground.

However, an Ivorian security source maintains the line: Ivory Coast is determined to preserve peace, the main adversary remaining terrorism and jihadist groups.

The sword of Damocles hanging over diplomatic relations

These military clashes are taking place against a backdrop of frosty relations between Abidjan and Ouagadougou since Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power. He maintains his accusation that Côte d'Ivoire is the "rear base of Burkina Faso's enemies."

The Ivorian Minister of Defense, Téné Birahima Ouattara, categorically denied these allegations, stating that they "made no sense", notably in an exclusive interview given to Jeune Afrique in July 2024, as also reported by our colleague.

A potential sign of appeasement lies in the reactivation of the joint border demarcation commission, which has been working since its meeting in April 2024. However, an Ivorian diplomat warns: "As long as the two countries do not sit down to talk and Ouagadougou does not return to the negotiating table, incidents will become recurrent and the worst could happen."