Cote d'Ivoire is home to millions of immigrants and children of immigrants, and most of them came from neighboring countries like Burkina Faso to participate in the relatively robust Ivoirian economy. In the city of M'Batto, the demographic pressure posed by the presence of migrants, the increasing cost of living, and the decreasing opportunities for employment have contributed to mounting tensions among identity groups and threatened communal peace.

Between September 30 and October 2, 2023, communal tension reached a peak as clashes between young Agnis (Ivoirians who have settled in a specific locality within Cote d'Ivoire from other regions of the country) and Burkinabés (residents in a community who originally came from neighboring countries) erupted in the city's market and threatened to spread into nearby villages. Without swift intervention, fights like these can result in casualties and significant damage while also leaving the community with long term scars.

In this tense environment, the local branch of the interparty dialogue group, the CIED, which NDI had trained in early warning and response under the USAID-funded Community Resilience through Dialogue and Art (CORDIAL) program, was among the first to bring the conflict to the attention of the Agni chief.

The CIED is a national organization with 50 local branches that have been set up and supported over a series of USAID-funded programs since 2014. Its activities bring members of disparate political parties into close dialogue over issues that divide them in their communities, and help them collaborate on common goals like multiparty training activities.

According to local customs, interethnic disputes are resolved by the Agni chief, who makes his judgment and assigns penalties. As in many parts of the country, members of other ethnic groups living in the city have complained that their voices are insufficiently taken into account in traditional trials; for example, they are not allowed to speak during the trial itself, but rather have an Agni defender appointed to represent their case. This can lead to resentment and sometimes further violence.

Following the incident, the CIED president (an Agni) drew on his position of authority and his experience in the multiparty and multiethnic CIED branch to argue the importance of giving space to other groups to fully explain their events and defend themselves. He spoke with the Agni chief to make sure that both sides of the conflict were heard. Other CIED members who were youth leaders in their respective communities also worked to calm tensions and prevent an escalation of violence. Furthermore, CIED members contributed funds to pay the medical costs of those hurt during the conflict, showing multiparty solidarity with all victims of the clashes.

The trial itself took place in a transparent manner, with attendance by the young people involved in the conflict and their parents; representatives of the Agni and Burkinabe communities as well as other ethnic groups in the city; and the general public. A judgment was handed down that pleased neither side, but that both have accepted for the sake of peace.

NDI helped to ensure that the central government was aware of the events and would be well-placed to take measures to prevent future conflict. In this locality, the population, which largely supports the opposition party PPA-CI, had grown to resent and deny the legitimacy of the administrative authorities, many of whom are appointed by the ruling RHDP. The Agni community had turned away from formal avenues of justice, which they expected to be biased, in favor of local customary leaders. This had led to the government being uninformed and shut out of mediation efforts. With NDI's information, the prefect arranged a discussion with the local chieftaincy to gain a greater understanding of local dynamics so that the government authorities can better anticipate conflict and respond to it in the future.

Author: Jonah Brody, Program Associate for the Central and West African team.

NDI's engagement with this program is implemented with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

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