Spotlight: ISS research is helping Côte d’Ivoire tackle violent extremism on its borders

ISS assisted the government to understand the long-term nature of the threat and the need to disrupt funding streams.

Published on 02 October 2024 in Impact

Since 2020, armed groups have attacked security forces and intimidated civilians along Côte d’Ivoire’s northern border with Burkina Faso, and infiltrated the livestock and illegal gold mining economies.

ISS research looked at extremists’ strategies to generate finances, mobilise human resources and secure food, medicines and fuel.

An ISS team conducted around 300 interviews with people involved in illegal activities and associated with extremist groups, including artisanal gold miners, cattle owners and traders, herders, and dealers in arms, drugs and counterfeit medicines. They also spoke with traditional authorities and security forces.

The findings were presented in September 2023 at an event in Abidjan in partnership with the Côte d’Ivoire National Border Commission (CNFCI). The event was attended by officials from departments and bodies responsible for territorial administration, security, defence and mining, as well as representatives from international and bilateral partners.

The ISS study informed the Côte d’Ivoire government about the long-term nature of the extremist threat on its borders, and the need to disrupt funding streams.

‘We benefit from ISS research which helps us to understand and find solutions to structural challenges in our border areas,’ said CNFCI Executive Secretary Konaté Diakalidia.

‘It is a win-win partnership which has helped to build capacity in the CNFCI and also with local administrative and traditional authorities in border areas.’

‘The ISS research leads to innovative recommendations which can be quickly implemented to improve our responses’

The ISS encouraged authorities to improve regulation of artisanal gold mining, reduce the cost of permits and revise the mining code to give local people access to legal mining. The government was also urged to strengthen regulations on livestock movement and tracking the animals' origin on local markets.

‘The ISS research leads to innovative recommendations which can be quickly implemented to improve our responses to violent extremism and illicit activities,’ Diakalidia said. ‘It led to capacity building, which improves our frontline responses, and aids our coordination with other government ministries.’

ISS’ evidence-based analysis improved the resilience of people living near the border, and the findings were adopted by the USAID-funded Resilience for Peace (R4P) project implemented in Côte d’Ivoire by Equal Access International (EAI).

‘The ISS helps us to better understand the environment we are working in,’ says Mirko Hoff, Deputy Chief of Party for the R4P project, which is helping communities resist violent extremism, with a focus on women and youth. ‘It is a valuable sounding board when we use evidence to adapt our strategy to conditions on the ground.’

Hoff says the ISS study on violent extremism and illicit activities complemented R4P’s own investigations. ‘The ISS found evidence of extremists mining gold in remote areas, which added to our understanding of risk factors and showed where we should focus. This work is very relevant to our strategy.’

ISS insights into cattle theft prompted R4P to introduce safe havens for cattle to rest at night while moving between grazing areas. ‘Their evidence led to a context-specific response which attracted a lot of attention from Washington DC,’ says Mirko.

‘We interact with high-quality individuals in the ISS Dakar office, and the quality of their research is very valuable to a short-term project which needs accurate information. The ISS has a long history in the region, and its methodology is rigorous.

‘The ISS is also very generous with their insights, which we apply to solve challenges and provide precise policy recommendations to the government. Without the ISS, we would not have had the same impact.’

For more information, contact:

William Assanvo, ISS: [email protected]