In brief
Yameogo Aminata, 57, is among thousands fleeing violence in Burkina Faso. After witnessing the brutal murder of her sons, she sought refuge in Ivory Coast, carrying the painful memories of her past. The ongoing insurgency has displaced millions in the region, revealing a desperate humanitarian crisis as neighbors respond to the influx of refugees.
Warning: Readers may find some of the content distressing.Sitting in a dim room at a refugee camp in Ivory Coast, Yameogo Aminata, 57, is haunted by memories of the murder of her four sons by jihadists in her home country, Burkina Faso.In 2022, she was away from her home when the armed insurgents - who have been terrorizing communities in central Burkina Faso for almost 15 years - struck. The jihadists had forcefully taken over her village, seizing cattle and land, and killing many residents - including her sons aged between 25 and 32. Aminata recounted, They slit the throats of four of my children, her body shaking as emotions overwhelmed her. When I arrived, they were killing my fourth son.Aminata attempted to fight back with a knife but was overpowered, beaten, and left with severe injuries. She returned to find her daughter missing, separated during the attack. In 2023, she fled to Nioronigué camp in neighboring Ivory Coast, keeping the bloodied clothes as a grim reminder of that day. I don’t know how to handle my life. I have nothing, she told the BBC.At least 10,000 people have been killed in the ongoing insurgency in Burkina Faso, leading to mass displacement across the Sahel region. The United Nations has described the area as the epicenter of global jihadist violence.Similar stories fill the Nioronigué camp, which now shelters around 13,000 refugees, far exceeding its intended capacity yet providing shelter to those fleeing violence and insecurity.For Aminata and many others, starting anew comes with the weight of memories, even as they express gratitude for the safety they’ve found in Ivory Coast. I thank the state of Ivory Coast, and all the Ivorians, she shared, adding, I left my house because we were chased out by jihadists. The struggle to find safety continues amidst ongoing conflicts that have reshaped lives across the region.
