As Côte d’Ivoire marks the ten-year anniversary of a harrowing terrorist attack that left 19 people dead, the shadow of jihadism looms larger than ever. The tranquility that once defined this coastal nation is increasingly punctuated by the spectre of violence spilling over from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso. With militant groups evolving their tactics and expanding their reach, the Ivorian government is grappling with the dual challenge of safeguarding its borders and maintaining the fragile peace within its borders.
A Nation Remembering Its Darkest Day
On 13 March 2016, the serene beaches of Grand Bassam were shattered when gunmen unleashed a torrent of bullets upon unsuspecting holidaymakers. Among the victims was Rose Ebirim, who has since turned her trauma into activism. “That day was a Black Sunday for me,” she recalls, her voice steady but the pain evident in her eyes. The attack, claimed by Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), marked a grim awakening for a nation that had largely been insulated from such brutality.
The aftermath saw a wave of arrests, culminating in December 2022 with an Abidjan court sentencing 11 individuals to death for their involvement. Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring such atrocities are not repeated, pledging heightened vigilance among security forces.
Rising Threats from Neighbouring Countries
While the beaches of Grand Bassam have returned to a semblance of normalcy, the northern borders with Mali and Burkina Faso tell a different story. Here, the threat of jihadism is palpable. Following military coups in both nations, international troops, including French and American forces, have been ousted, leading to a shift towards Russian alliances. This vacuum has created fertile ground for jihadist groups, with violence in the Sahel region now at an alarming level.
According to Héni Nsaibia, a senior analyst at the conflict monitor Acled, “The world’s most active zone of Islamist militancy” is now centred in this region. The Al-Qaida-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) has begun using increasingly sophisticated tactics, including armed drones, with strikes reportedly increasing from fewer than 10 in 2024 to approximately 80 in 2025.
Strengthening Defences and Community Resilience
In response to the Kafolo attack in June 2020, in which 14 Ivorian soldiers were killed, the government has bolstered its military presence in the north. The recruitment of police and gendarmes has more than doubled, and an EU-supported counter-terrorism academy was established to train elite units equipped to confront this evolving threat.
Moreover, the Ivorian government is not solely focused on military solutions. In an effort to counteract the allure of militant recruitment, it has initiated community development programmes in remote border villages. These initiatives include building schools, deploying mobile health clinics, and providing micro-loans to young farmers, all aimed at improving local livelihoods and reducing vulnerability to extremist ideologies.
However, the porous borders and dense forests present ongoing challenges. As the government seeks to fortify its defences, it faces growing concerns from citizens about the effectiveness of these measures.
Struggling to Move Forward
As the anniversary of the Grand Bassam attack
