Patience Baye Koromah -former Newsroom Leader Fellow
Grand Gedeh County- Liberia -August 4, 2024
The influx of illegal migrants, particularly from Burkina Faso through neighboring country Cote d’Ivoire, is causing significant unrest in the southeastern region of Liberia, specifically in Grand Gedeh County. Grand Gedeh County, located in the southeastern part of Liberia, is one of Liberia’s largest counties bordering Cote d’Ivoire to the north. The county is known for its vast forests and holds the Cavalla River.
In 2016, a significant influx of migrants from Burkina Faso arrived in the county seeking opportunities as farmers, leading to a rise in tensions. Upon their arrival, a land dispute erupted in the Beh’ai district, prompting the then Minister of Internal Affairs Varney Sirleaf to deploy an Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) team to ease the situation. The intervention revealed that the migrants had begun farming extensively in the forest.
Since then community, residents have been expressing growing fears as conflicts arise between locals and the newcomers.
However, pockets of fight have been taking place in the Beha’i district, one of the eight administrative districts in Grand Gedeh, which is characterized by the county’s portion of forests. They are creating conflict among community dwellers. Recently, a confrontation occurred in Blown Town, located a three-hour walk from the Ivory Coast border.
At approximately 3:30 AM, a hunter named Bieyoplu encountered an armed individual, allegedly a Burkinabe, while hunting. When Bieyoplu attempted to intervene, a struggle ensued, resulting in the hunter sustaining injuries. Elder Mafa Tojallah, a local leader, reported receiving a distress call from Bieyoplu during the incident, informed the police, and the Burkinabe was arrested.
Mafa urged local authorities and the government to address the escalating violence, emphasizing that residents feel threatened by the presence of armed migrants. In another distressing incident, a man from Burkina Faso was fatally shot in Porkor Town, a village located approximately 40 minutes from the main city of Toe’s Town, on July 11, 2024.
The victim’s wife, Domiado Salimatu Ameh, recounted the harrowing experience, stating that two men knocked on their door and demanded her husband come outside. Despite her warnings to her husband, he went out with money and his phone thinking they were robbers but they did not take any of the amount only to be shot when the assailants realized her husband was with a cutlass.
Ameh Sumaru, another Burkina Faso migrant said he was invited by the locals to farm in exchange for a portion of land. Still, conflicts ensued upon their arrival, leading to clashes within the Beha’i district. Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Hon. Alex Charsia Grant expressed deep concern over the situation, highlighting the troubling trend of violence and lawlessness in the community.
He assured residents that local authorities would work closely with security forces to investigate these incidents and restore safety.
Villagers who witnessed the shooting reported that the gunmen were wearing masks, adding to the fear and uncertainty in the area.
The Liberia National Police are currently investigating the incidents, while Grand Gedeh County immigration Commander Mr Alex Kpakpolo noted that many Burkinabe migrants are entering Liberia through illegal crossing points. The Liberia Immigration Service has identified both legal and illegal entry points between Grand Gedeh and Cote d’Ivoire, with approximately 10,000 Bukinabes estimated to enter the country.
Commander Kpakpolo revealed that some locals are facilitating the entry of Burkinabe migrants by allowing them to farm on their land, leading to disputes over land use and resources. He estimated that 90-95% of the Burkinabe are crossing over illegally.
“Only a few of the migrants have legal residency permits, leading to concerns about their impact on the local communities,” he said.
According to commander Kpakpolo, plans are underway to work with the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) to gather comprehensive data on the Bukinabes in the country beginning August 2024. Grand Gedeh has four major legal entry points while there are approximately over 12 illegal crossing points.
The population of Grand Gedeh County is expected to increase significantly since the last census, with illegal migrants adding to the numbers. Despite the county’s official population of 2022 census population figure of 216,692, the current influx of migrants suggests a need for updated census data to reflect the evolving demographics accurately
Residents are urging the government to take action to address the influx of illegal migrants by putting in measures that will put specific restrictions on the consistent illegal crossing by Burkinabes to prevent further violence in the area.
Businesswoman Winifred Gbayor who’s also a resident of Toe town said despite the internal conflict between the locals and the Bokinabees, since they arrived in the county, there has been a notable positive impact on the local economy, leading to increased crop production
“Before we used to go Tapata and Blodiala to purchase okra, pepper, plantain, and other goods but since these people came we stopped going there.” She said
This growth has deterred businesspersons and community members from traveling to Nimba for goods, transforming one of the county’s entry points Toe Town Boarder into a bustling trade center where Ivorian businesspersons gather weekly every Saturday to trade.
In 2016, a surge of migrants from Burkina Faso migrated to the county seeking farming opportunities, sparking tensions.
Calls have been made for government intervention to address illegal migration through implementing regulatory measures to restrict their presence in the country and prevent further violence in the region.
