Burkina Faso: Passive complicity, when northern Côte d’Ivoire serves as a sanctuary for terrorists
The heroic struggle waged by the Burkinabe fighting forces against terrorism is now facing an obstacle as frustrating as it is concerning: the sanctuary that Ivorian territory constitutes for armed groups. While soldiers relentlessly hunt down these enemies of the nation, the latter have found an unstoppable strategy to escape death: taking refuge in Côte d’Ivoire, where they feel untouchable.
A few days ago, an armed group left Côte d’Ivoire to enter Burkinabe territory with the manifest intention of perpetrating attacks there. But the Defense and Security Forces, always vigilant, responded with such firepower that the terrorists had to beat a hasty retreat. That’s where the scandal begins.
Pursued by the Burkinabe army, these criminals ran until they crossed the Ivorian border. And then, a staggering sight: once on Ivorian soil, they stop, catch their breath, and sit down calmly.
What’s more, videos circulating show them taunting the Burkinabe soldiers, aware that the latter cannot cross the border without provoking a major diplomatic incident.
This situation is intolerable. It clearly means that on Ivorian territory, the terrorists feel protected. They find refuge, rest, and perhaps even logistical support there, with complete impunity.
The Ivorian authorities can no longer pretend to ignore what is happening in the north of their country.
How can it be explained that armed groups can move around, stop, and regain strength just across the border without the Ivorian army intervening?
This guilty attitude raises questions about Abidjan’s real willingness to fight terrorism.
While the FDS and VDP fall under assassin’s bullets, while the population is being massacred, some seem to have made the dangerous choice of peaceful coexistence with terrorists.
This policy of “living with” is a betrayal of West African solidarity and a direct threat to the security of the entire sub-region.
President Ibrahim Traoré had already denounced, in September 2025, Ivorian civil servants arrested for espionage and accused Abidjan of “fraternizing with terrorists.” These revelations are now taking on a tragically concrete dimension.
Northern Côte d’Ivoire has become an operational rear base for those who want to destabilize Burkina Faso.
The Ivorian authorities have a duty to regain control of this portion of their territory. They cannot continue to turn a blind eye on the pretext that the terrorists are not directly attacking their populations.
Norbert DADIE
