Ten years after the devastating Grand Bassam attack, Côte d'Ivoire remains on high alert as jihadist threats persist along its northern borders with Mali and Burkina Faso. Rose Ebirim, who witnessed the 2016 shooting spree that killed 19 people, now finds therapy in organizing reggae festivals and cleaning beaches. The attack, claimed by Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), shocked the nation and prompted a robust security response.
Security Measures and Regional Dynamics
Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara stated that forces have strengthened operational vigilance to prevent future tragedies. Since the 2020 Kafolo attack, which killed 14 Ivorian soldiers, the number of police and gendarmerie in the north has more than doubled. An EU-backed counter-terrorism academy in Jacqueville trains elite units to counter evolving threats.
Meanwhile, regional instability has driven thousands of refugees into northern Côte d'Ivoire. Both Mali and Burkina Faso have expelled French and American troops after military takeovers, pivoting to Russia. Côte d'Ivoire remains a key Western ally for counterinsurgency in the region.
Evolving Tactics of Militant Groups
Jihadist groups like Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) are using more sophisticated tactics, including armed drones. According to conflict monitor Acled, JNIM's drone strikes increased from fewer than 10 in 2024 to around 80 in 2025. The region is now considered the world's most active zone of Islamist militancy.
The Ivorian government has also invested in development projects in remote border villages, building schools, deploying mobile health clinics, and funding vocational micro-loans for young cashew farmers to reduce the appeal of militant groups. However, dense forests and porous borders remain concerns.
In Grand Bassam, the three hotels attacked in 2016 remain shuttered. Ebirim continues her beach clean-up and reggae festival, now in its sixth year, saying, 'After 10 years, I'm starting to sort myself out.'
