Côte d’Ivoire brings home 150 citizens from Niger
Côte d’Ivoire has repatriated 150 of its nationals from Niger under a voluntary return programme organised with the International Organization for Migration.
Côte d’Ivoire has repatriated 150 of its nationals from Niger under a voluntary return programme organised by the Directorate General for Ivorians Abroad (DGIE) in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The group, comprising 134 men, 13 women and three children, arrived in Abidjan on March 9 and represents the third wave of voluntary returns in 2026.
The government said the operation is part of a new identification system using online hearings to verify undocumented citizens abroad. About 400 Ivorians have been identified in Niger and will be repatriated in phases. Upon arrival, the returnees were provided temporary accommodation, medical and psychological support, and financial assistance to help them reunite with their families. The initiative follows the earlier repatriation of 149 migrants from Niger and 145 from Tunisia earlier this year as part of broader reintegration efforts.
The repatriation reflects a broader trend in West Africa, where countries are working to bring home citizens stranded in the Sahel. The political instability in Niger, which has been under military rule since the 2023 coup, has made it more difficult for Ivorian migrants to remain in the country. The repatriation programme is a recognition of the challenges facing Ivorian citizens abroad.
The Nigerian stake is clear. Nigeria has also repatriated citizens from South Africa and other countries in recent months. The Ivorian repatriation programme offers lessons for Nigeria on how to manage the reintegration of returnees.
From a Nigerian vantage point, the Ivorian programme is a reminder that Nigeria must also provide support for its citizens abroad. The evacuation of nearly 1,500 Nigerians from South Africa was a significant achievement, but the government must also provide support for returnees.
This echoes the 2015 repatriation of Nigerians from Libya, which also involved support for returnees. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a government taking responsibility for its citizens abroad.
The winners: the 150 Ivorian returnees, who have been brought home safely; and the Ivorian government, which has demonstrated its commitment to its citizens. The losers: the Ivorian citizens who remain in Niger; and the Nigerian government, which must continue to support its citizens abroad.
Bottom Line: Côte d’Ivoire has brought home 150 citizens from Niger. The programme is ongoing. The question is whether Nigeria will learn from its neighbour’s approach.