Early this morning, around 3 a.m., detonations rang out near the Ivorian-Burkinabe border, in the Anda border area, on the Burkina Faso side.

Ivorian security forces (FACI) stationed at their post in Handa, a town on the Ivorian border, heard the gunfire coming from Burkina Faso. The close proximity of the gunfire caused concern among the villagers of Handa.

Immediate and preventive Ivorian reaction

Judging these shots as a potential threat to their position and civilians, the Ivorian soldiers reacted promptly by firing warning shots . This action was strictly dissuasive and aimed to prevent any escalation or incursion.

The objective of this response was purely preventive and not to initiate a cross-border conflict. The mere fact of hearing the Ivorian response was enough, as the shooting from Burkina Faso immediately ceased. The presence of the FACI detachment also helped to quickly reassure the villagers.

Hypotheses on the origin of the shots

At this stage, two main scenarios are being considered to explain the origin of the detonations on the Burkinabe side:

1. An internal clash was underway on Burkinabe territory, but very close to the demarcation line.
2. VDP (Volunteers for the Defense of the Burkinabe Homeland, local militias) attempted an incursion towards the Ivorian border.

In both cases, the responsiveness of the Ivorian security forces made it possible to neutralize the situation without engaging in direct combat.

Clarification on a separate event

It is important to emphasize that this border incident is unrelated to the helicopter crash that occurred on the runway of Korhogo airport, located several hundred kilometers from Handa. The aircraft in question crashed following a technical failure while taking off for Abidjan, where it was due to undergo its periodic overhaul, after being relieved.