Violent conflict in the Sahel forces herders to seek refuge in Africa's coastal cities

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast Nouhoun Sidib grew up as a herder, following the path of his father and grandfather, cherishing his identity as a pastoralist. Everything changed in 2020 when armed assailants attacked his home in northern Burkina Faso and took all his livestock. In a matter of minutes, Sidib, a father of four, lost his entire livelihood.

For the next three years, he moved from town to town across Burkina Faso, searching for work amid escalating attacks by armed groups, some linked to al-Qaida. Failing to find stability, he crossed into Ivory Coast in 2023.

I feel very lost. I was a chief in my village, and now I work for someone else, Sidib, 49, told The Associated Press while at a stockyard in a marshy area on the outskirts of Abidjan. He and other migrants live in overcrowded conditions without bathrooms or kitchens.

The ongoing conflict in the Sahela vast semi-arid region south of the Saharahas forced thousands of herders to relocate to safer areas near Abidjan. Here, they struggle with the cost of living, unemployment, and adapting to urban life. Sidib now assists cattle sellers in vaccinating their animals. You cant keep livestock here, but since I lost mine, moving here was the only option, he said.

This situation may evolve as Ivory Coast has recently announced increased security along its northern borders in response to unusual flows of refugees from Mali. The Sahel has been battling armed groups since unrest began in northern Mali in 2012, spreading to Burkina Faso and Niger. This conflict has reshaped West Africa, prompting migration toward coastal nations like Ivory Coast.

Analysts note that armed groups often target herders to seize livestock, both to finance their operations and to assert control over communities. Herding remains a primary livelihood in the Sahel, where climate change also heightens tension with local farmersfurther driving migration.

Ivory Coasts growing economy and regional hub status make it a common destination for migrants. The influx has surged after military juntas assumed power in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Between January and March of this year, more than 72,000 people fled violence in Burkina Faso and Mali to Ivory Coast, an increase from the 54,000 recorded from April 2021 to March 2024.

Nomadic herders, primarily ethnic Fulani Muslims, are among the most vulnerable. Many face accusations of being linked to armed groups, though they are often targets themselves. There is no Fulani without his cattle, that is his identity, said Amadou Sonde, secretary general of the Federation of Burkinab Fulani Associations in Ivory Coast. Sonde helps thousands of incoming migrants find work as drivers, shop assistants, or factory workersfar from their former pastoral life.

Due to insecurity around livestock and disputes with farmers, many Fulani have shifted to land acquisition, real estate, or small businesses, explained Yao Kouam, a sociology professor at the University of Bouak.

Tanan Ibrahim left his village in Burkina Faso three years ago after armed militants seized his herd of sheep and cattle. He does not plan to return. The village is deserted; everyone has moved to the city, he said, surrounded by other migrants tending livestock on the outskirts of Abidjan. They gather around a charcoal stove, sharing tea in small tin cups.

Experts warn that the Sahel conflict continues with no immediate resolution. Military juntas in central Sahel states are overwhelmed by multiple armed groups. The crisis is far from over, said Oluwole Ojewale, a Senegal-based conflict specialist.

Like Sidib, Ibrahim struggles to adjust to urban life and acquire new skills to survive. Reflecting on his nomadic past, he said, Life with the animals gave freedom. In the city, everything is expensive; you work hard just to meet basic needs, and then you must return to work.

Author: Sophia Brooks