Sixteen Burkinabè intercepted at Ivory Coast border in Guinea
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Africaguinée
Sixteen Burkinabè nationals, including several minors and a woman, were intercepted on 6 November at the border between Guinea and Ivory Coast. Guinean authorities placed them in the custody of Nzérékoré police and took steps to facilitate their return to Burkina Faso, according to Africaguinee.
Sixteen Burkinabè nationals, including several minors and a woman, were intercepted on Friday 6 November 2026 at the border between Guinea and Ivory Coast as they were attempting to return to Burkina Faso, according to Africaguinée. The group came from Boola, in Guinea’s Beyla prefecture, where its members were engaged in illegal artisanal gold mining.
Ivorian authorities prevented several members of the group, particularly those without travel documents, from continuing their journey and escorted them back to the Guinean side. The 16 Burkinabè nationals were then placed in the custody of the Nzérékoré Regional Police Directorate, while Guinean authorities took steps to facilitate their return to Burkina Faso, according to Africaguinée.
Sawadogo Prospère, a Burkinabè national who was accompanying the young people, told Africaguinée that they had left Boola after illegal gold mining was banned in Guinea. He explained that he had accompanied them because several did not speak French well and did not have papers. Sawadogo Prospère and his wife, who had come for a short stay and had travel documents, chose to turn back with them.
