As tensions build up across Liberia’s border in neighbouring Ivory Coast, over 135 Ivorian nationals are reported to have fled to this country through the southeastern Grand Gedeh County.
Some of the Ivorians who have arrived in Liberia by last week said they left because they did not feel safe. Many of them are believed to be supporters of former President Laurent Gbagbo, who was some time ago acquitted by the UN war crimes court in The Hague. .
The Ivorian citizens are said to have crossed through some of the unofficial crossing points between Liberia and the Ivory Coals last Thursday at Boe and Pahonbly borders. Others coming to Liberia are also said to be using the official border in Toe towns in Grand Gedeh County for safety.
Before the latest return of Ivorians to Liberia, most of them who sought refuge in Liberia during their country’s civil conflict had left Liberia.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “in 2019, a total of 1,501 Ivorian refugees have voluntary repatriated home from Liberia.The Minister of Internal Affairs hands over the first 13 permanent refugee housing units in Bahn Settlement at an official ceremony in support of the local integration of Ivorian refugees in Liberia.8,254 Total number of Persons of Concern in Liberia.”
Boe border in Grand Gedeh County is unrecognized situated in Niao clan, Cavalla Administrative District.
According to the Ivorian refugees, they have allegedly been blacklisted to be killed and in fact they were been notified of their death threats and some have even lost their properties through violent clashes back home.
Ivory coast is expected to go to election on October 31, 2020, with several presidential candidates confirmed to contest the polls.
Those candidates are incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, former president Henri Konan Bedie, Pascal Affi’N Guessan and Kouadio Konan Bertin.
Four out of 44 presidential candidates in the Ivorian election were cleared to contest, while rest were denied including former present Laurent Gbagbo.
Former president Gbagbo was the Country first head of state to be taken into Court custody for his refusal to turn over power and also to accept defeat to incumbent president Alassane Ouattara and looting the Branch of the Central Bank of the West African States during civil crisis but he was acquitted from those charges from Hauge in January of 2019.