The villages of northern Côte d’Ivoire have become silent sentinels in a region grappling with the shadow of terrorism. Here, between savannah and dense forests, the presence of Ivorian defense forces is more than a show of strength—it is a lifeline for communities living under the constant threat of armed incursions from neighboring countries.
In Mororo, a small settlement near Tougbo, soldiers move cautiously through sun-baked streets, their boots kicking up dust as they maintain a watchful eye on the horizon. The border with Burkina Faso stretches just a few kilometers away, a porous frontier where jihadist factions have repeatedly sought to extend their influence. The task facing these troops is immense: safeguarding a region that has become the last line of defense against the spread of extremist violence.
Trust in Ibrahim Traoré, but the battle is far from over
