OUAGADOUGOU — The Burkinabè government has publicly denounced the expulsion of 173 of its citizens from Côte d’Ivoire, labeling the act as a violation of humanitarian standards.

According to Burkina Information Agency, primarily women and children from a single community, were forcibly returned and received in Yendéré on the Ivorian-Burkinabe border on July 16, 2024. The spokesperson criticized the manner of their expulsion, emphasizing that it contravened basic humanitarian norms. In response, President Ibrahim Traoré has directed a government delegation to Yendéré to assess the situation and ensure that the returnees are adequately accommodated and supported.

This incident has raised concerns about the treatment of Burkinabè nationals in neighboring countries and the implications for regional relations and human rights standards.