The Burkinabe government is mobilizing to receive its citizens expelled from Guinea. A meeting of the Regional Council for Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation (CORESUR) was held in Ouagadougou, chaired by Kadiogo regional governor Abdoulaye Bassinga. The council discussed the situation and planned for the care of the returnees. As of November 5, 2026, 3,533 people had been recorded in Koloko and Bobo-Dioulasso, including 2,428 men, 209 women, and 896 children.
The city of Bobo-Dioulasso is the main entry point and first reception site for the expelled miners. From there, they will be distributed according to their regions of origin or destination. Ouagadougou is also an important site, with some returnees transiting there before heading to their localities. The authorities anticipate the arrival of around 4,000 people in Bobo-Dioulasso in the coming hours. A convoy of cars is being organized to transport them, with two cars already arrived and around 50 more expected by the morning of November 7, 2026.
The National Council for Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation (CONASUR) has sent a team of around 20 people to assess the situation and help organize the care of the returnees. The team will evaluate the needs and anticipate difficulties related to this operation. The authorities aim to provide a dignified reception, taking into account the needs and vulnerability of the returnees, particularly women and children.
To ensure an effective response, CORESUR has set up several commissions. The reception and accommodation commission, led by the regional directorates of the ministry in charge of solidarity and security, will handle the reception, identity verification, and security of the returnees. The health commission, led by the regional health directorate and the Red Cross, will handle medical cases and psychosocial care.
The water and sanitation commission, led by the ministry in charge of water and sanitation, will ensure the supply of drinking water and management of toilets and handwashing facilities. The identification of reception sites is ongoing. The authorities are working to coordinate the different reception sites and actors involved to avoid difficulties in managing these massive arrivals.
The returnees will be accommodated in designated sites, which will be announced soon. The authorities are working to provide a dignified reception, taking into account the needs and vulnerability of the returnees. The situation is being closely monitored, with the government and humanitarian actors working together to provide support.
The Burkinabe government has urged calm and cooperation from the public, emphasizing the importance of providing a safe and dignified reception for the returnees. The situation remains fluid, with more returnees expected in the coming days. The government's response is focused on providing emergency relief and rehabilitation support to those affected.
Key points
- Over 3,500 Burkinabe gold miners have been recorded as having been expelled from Guinea.
- The Burkinabe government has set up a reception system, including several commissions to handle the care of the returnees.
- The authorities anticipate the arrival of around 4,000 people in Bobo-Dioulasso in the coming hours.
