Authorities in Côte d’Ivoire and Tunisia, with support from the International Organization for Migration, have facilitated the voluntary return of 243 Ivorian migrants who were facing difficult living conditions in Tunisia.
The group, made up of men, women and children, arrived in Abidjan aboard a special humanitarian flight and was received at Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport.
According to the Directorate General for Ivorians Abroad, the migrants underwent health and administrative procedures before being transferred to a reception center for medical and psychological assistance ahead of reintegration into their communities.
Ivorian authorities say the operation forms part of broader efforts to support returning migrants and discourage irregular migration routes that continue to expose thousands of West Africans to hardship and exploitation.
Officials noted that Tunisia has increasingly become a transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, while also facing criticism from human rights organizations over the treatment of sub-Saharan African migrants.
Mamadou Sako acknowledged that voluntary return remains emotionally difficult for many migrants, but stressed the importance of promoting local opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire through employment and training initiatives. Authorities disclosed that nearly 8,700 Ivorians have returned home with IOM assistance between 2022 and 2025.
