Figure 1.--Not all refugees are realted to the violence. This photo was taken in 2014 in Zuenoula village, central Ivory Coast. It shows three generation of a stateless family, tied to Burkina Faso but entirely undocumented. We see Rakiata, in her mid-50s (she doesn't know exactly her own age), her son Adama, 32 years old, daughter Lisette, 20, and grandson Salam, 6. They belong to a group of families who migrated from Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) to Ivory Coast in the late-1950s. We arebnit sure why. At the time movement between the various French colonies was not closely controlled. When those countries became independent they did not become citizens of Ivory Coast nor of Upper Volta.
Ivory Coast was a relatively stable new country after independence from France (1980). Unlike many newly independent countries, maintained close relations with the former colonial power. Long-serving president Houphouët-Boigny strong-arm rule,however, prevented the development of democratic institutions. A rebellion erupted into years of violent civil war, leaving the country divided and hundreds of thousands displaced. Despite peace efforts, conflict broke out again as a result of a disputed electiion (2010). Millions were eprooted and country’s economy secerly damaged. Ivory Coast also remains vulnerable to the spread of Ebola, terrorism, and aranmge of security issues from bordering countries inclusing Liberia and Guinea. Islamic viloence in Mali and Burkina Faso is an increasing concern. The humanitarian challenges have subsided in recent years, there is still a significant refgugee problem.
