Tourism in Northern Côte d'Ivoire: Resilience Amid Challenges

On the road to the North, nearly 600 kilometers from the economic capital Abidjan, concerns are not new. "After the attacks, we were truly frightened, especially in our line of work," says a tourism professional from the city of Korhogo. The guide refers to the various attacks that have impacted the district and neighboring regions. Between 2020 and 2021, several localities such as Kafolo, Téhini, and Tougbo suffered heavy losses due to assailants from Burkina Faso, whose border is just a few kilometers away. These attacks typically involve small, heavily armed commandos, often attributed to the numerous jihadist groups operating across several Sahel countries. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently estimated the total number of internally displaced persons in Burkina Faso at over 2 million. In 2023, the organization Acled, which tracks violent incidents, recorded 12,000 casualties across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

The descent of the terrorist threat towards the Gulf of Guinea countries is a painful memory for Ivorians, especially after the Grand-Bassam attack in 2016, which claimed the lives of sixteen civilians and three soldiers on the beaches of the resort town. Alongside these often invisible enemies, tensions between Abidjan and Ouagadougou have been escalating. Arrests of Ivorian and Burkinabé soldiers have increased along this border area, where security cooperation should be paramount. Among the points of contention is the thorny issue of hosting refugees from Burkina Faso, with Côte d'Ivoire having already taken in more than 60,000 since 2021. More recently, discussions about a possible redeployment of U.S. forces on Ivorian soil prompted Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of Burkina Faso's transition, to accuse Abidjan and its partners of seeking to "destabilize" his government.

Youth Taking the Lead

Despite a context that could undermine tourism to these somewhat remote regions, many stakeholders are working daily to refute this idea. One such individual is Vincent Yeo, a 27-year-old who has become a key figure in the tourism sector around Korhogo, his hometown. A geography student, his passion for the history of his region led him to organize tours for friends and family, which gradually grew through word-of-mouth. Today, his venture, Korhogo Tourism, offers customized itineraries for clients to explore the traditions of the Senufo people. This ethnic group, one of the largest in the country, has gradually settled in northern Côte d'Ivoire since the 10th century, transitioning from a nomadic lifestyle to agricultural village communities. Visitors can appreciate the fertile landscapes of the Savanes district for much of the year.

Korhogo Tourism could have never come to be, as Vincent notes, "Before the university opened, everyone who wanted to continue their studies had to go to Abidjan." The establishment of the Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University in 2012 allowed him to maintain a strong connection with his region. "Even though life in Abidjan can be difficult, many of our friends struggle to return," he adds. Time has proven him right. Today, Vincent and his team of young students can simultaneously host four to five tourist groups during peak season. Both families and solo travelers visit iconic sites such as the mosques of Kouto and Tenguerela, two structures recognized as "of exceptional universal value" by UNESCO in 2023. These centuries-old Sudanese-style places of worship are built using earthen structures, maintained through ancestral techniques.

A Heritage with Great Potential

Vincent confirms that the attacks between 2019 and 2021 significantly reduced tourist demand for months. On the ground, fear led most guides to temporarily stop tours of the great mosque of Kong, deemed too risky. Since then, tours to the site—which remains formally discouraged by the French Foreign Ministry—have resumed. Although COVID-19 also impacted the tourism industry, Vincent and his team now enjoy a marked increase in bookings: "There was a CAN (Africa Cup of Nations) effect," he insists.

Korhogo has benefited from the refurbishment of the main road leading to the city, as well as improvements to its airport and hotel infrastructure, in the wake of the tournament. Tourism professionals also observe a shift in the demographics of their clientele: a few years ago, most travelers were French. "In 2024, we see many Europeans of African descent and more Ivorians traveling with their families." Vincent also notes the growing presence of French tourists of Caribbean origin, following the visit of Sandy Abena, an influencer documenting the "Afro World."

During their journeys, Sandy and other visitors discover the rich heritage of the Senufo people. Many artisanal activities surround the city of half a million inhabitants, including hand-painted tapestries, Senufo mask craftsmanship, and the weavers of Waraniéné. Further afield, the sacred huts of Niofoin alone illustrate the intricate blend of Islam and animist practices in this vast region. "Korhogo means heritage in the local language," the guide notes, striving to highlight the mystical aspect in each of his itineraries. Practically, Vincent and other tourism professionals seek to organize themselves around an association to advocate for their interests. Their ambitions include hiring a full-time team, developing their own accommodation and transportation services, and more. However, these entrepreneurs expect the Ivorian government to address issues such as road repairs, waste management near tourist sites, and raising awareness among locals about tourism opportunities.

From the heights of Mount Korhogo, the landscape is ever-changing, with the city and its savanna slowly fading into the last rays of the sun.

Source: Le point