Burkinabè leaving Guinea seek to return home via Bamako
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Mali Actu
Burkinabè families and young people who arrived from Guinea after leaving gold-panning sites are seeking transport from Bamako to return to Burkina Faso. Their departure follows Guinean measures against clandestine mining, while Malian authorities have announced arrangements to receive and transport them, according to local media and CECOGEC.
Burkinabè teenagers, young adults and families arriving from Guinea were waiting at Djicoroni-Para bus station in Bamako on Wednesday 4 November 2026, seeking the means to return home, according to local media. They had left gold-panning sites after Guinean authorities took measures against clandestine and illegal mining.
The Malian Centre for Coordination and Crisis Management (CECOGEC) said on Tuesday 3 November that the situation had been discussed at an emergency meeting at the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection. The Malian authorities said they had made arrangements to receive those concerned and transport them to their countries of origin.
Silvain Ouédraogo, a 17-year-old Burkinabè, said he had worked for nine months at a Guinean gold-mining site before travelling to Bamako with other nationals. Ditanga Diassanou, who arrived with his two wives and two children, was also seeking transport to return to Burkina Faso.
These arrivals come as an influx of foreign nationals into Bamako was reported on 5 November. They follow Burkina Faso’s announcement on 4 November that it would organise the return of thousands of nationals expelled from Guinea.
