Sports events build social cohesion between refugees and locals in Côte d’Ivoire

Local authorities, refugees, and host communities participated in a series of sporting activities in Ondéfidouo, a village in the Bouna department of Côte d’Ivoire.

The event took place on November 7, 2026, and included a fitness session, a sports walk through the streets, and a gala tournament. The village chief joined the participants to promote peaceful coexistence and brotherhood among the different groups.

Honoré Assiénin, the sub-prefect of Ondéfidouo, stated that the initiative uses sports as a tool to foster solidarity and social cohesion. The goal is to help refugees integrate more smoothly into the communities that welcome them. Loukou Éric Kouamé, the secretary general of the Bouna prefecture, praised the community's mobilization. He encouraged officials to repeat these activities in other areas housing refugees and asylum seekers to prevent tensions and build mutual trust.