Côte d’Ivoire Grants Refugee Status to Nearly 80,000 Burkinabe and Malian NationalsCôte d’Ivoire, November 21, 2025

In a significant humanitarian development, Côte d’Ivoire has officially granted refugee status to over 69,000 Burkinabe and 1,500 Malian nationals, bringing the total recognized refugee population in the country to nearly 80,000, up from just 2,500 previously. The decision, formalized through an interministerial decree on July 2, 2025, received minimal media attention and was only publicly noted on November 20 via a UNHCR technical dashboard.

This measure applies to asylum seekers registered from May 2021 onwards, primarily individuals who fled violence in southern Burkina Faso and certain regions of Mali to seek safety in northern Côte d’Ivoire. The newly recognized population is highly vulnerable, having left their homes due to escalating conflict and security threats in the Sahel.

According to the UNHCR, official refugee status grants access to identity documents and special passports, facilitating administrative procedures and legal travel. While Ivorian law from 2023 already guaranteed certain rights, including the right to work, this decree now provides clear and formal legal recognition of these protections.

The Daara-the Directorate of Aid and Assistance to Refugees and Stateless Persons-is tasked with implementing humanitarian programs for the newly recognized refugees. These initiatives include the distribution of aid, support with administrative and social procedures, and integration services. Refugee status also opens the possibility of a voluntary, assisted return to the country of origin, although current security conditions in the Sahel make such returns highly challenging.

By granting this legal recognition, Côte d’Ivoire provides the refugees with temporary protection, stability, and access to essential services, while reinforcing its role as a safe haven amid regional turmoil.