Côte d’Ivoire grants legal protection to tens of thousands of refugees from Burkina Faso and Mali
A document issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and “Dara”, the Ivorian agency responsible for assisting refugees, revealed that during the past few weeks, Abidjan was granted “refugee” status. For more than 69,000 Burkinabe asylum seekers and 1,500 Malians.
Radio France Internationale reported this on Friday, noting that the number of refugees in the country has thus risen to about 80,000, compared to only 2,500 refugees previously, according to a ministerial decree.
The decree stipulates the granting of “refugee” status to all asylum seekers registered since May 2021, who fled violence in southern Burkina Faso and Mali to northern Côte. Ivory Coast.
An official at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed the decision, noting that “Abidjan finally recognizes this status for citizens of Burkina Faso and Mali, allowing them to obtain identity cards and special passports to facilitate their movements and procedures.” In practice, the 2023 Ivorian Refugee Law guarantees refugees rights similar to those of asylum seekers, such as the right to work in The country.
According to the ministerial decree, the “Dara” agency will be Responsible for implementing humanitarian programs for these new refugees.
An official in “Dara” indicated that refugee status also allows for the possibility of voluntary, supported return to the country of origin, which is difficult to implement due to the security situation in the Sahel region.
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