West Africa

North Africa is not the only area exploding right now. 

And word is that in Cote d'Ivoire tensions have reached the point of civil war. Although not officially, terms such as ethnic violence are being applied to describe the "tensions" in the Ivory Coast. 

It's not a surprise. Months ago this was the world's fear. Months ago my Burkinabe friend told me this was a possibility. And we must have known it was possible. But we hoped against hope that it wouldn't and that the tension would subside.  

if you aren't familiar with the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire jump here for a brief summary

The Word: According to the Agence Ivoirienne de Presse and Abidjan News  conflict has arisen between Ivorians (in particular the Abey peoples) and non-Ivoirians. These non-Ivorians are from all over West Africa but there have been attacks intended to specifically target the Burkinabe. 

Here's the thing I know about the Burkinabe in Cote d'Ivoire. There are 3 million Burkinabe living in Cote. Many of them have lived there for years and years.  For some considered Burkinabe it is a matter of where their parents are from, and they may have never lived anywhere but Cote d'Ivoire. Many times the men of the family live in Cote d'Ivoire and send remittances to the women in Burkina Faso. Sometimes the men move to Cote d'Ivoire with this intention, and set up home (and a new family) in Cote d'Ivoire and never return. 

So it's more than the country turning on foreigners. It's a little like they're turning on their own. It's not just ethnic tensions. It's civil war. 

What? Last month a Burkinabe woman was found beheaded. This month the chief of the Burkinabe community in Agboville has been burned alive. The shops and homes of Burkinabes have been destroyed, and pillaged. Burkinabe and citizens of other West African nations are fleeing.

Why? It's been suggested these attacks are in response to the death of a 'child of the village' (a boy from Agboville). He was killed during conflict lead by opposition to Gbagbo's army. A reporter in Abidjan suggested Burkinabe mercenaries were fighting against the Gbagbo army although circumstances surrounding the boy's death are not yet officially clarified. 

It's hard to understand what is happening on the other side of the world. News just gives a glimpse. The only thing we can know is that it is complicated, and terrifying. And we know we all need to pray for North Africa. And we all need to pray for West Africa.