Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

1. Overview

According to sociolinguist Jacques Leclerc, author of the website L'Aménagement linguistique dans le monde [1], the Dioula ethnic group represents 3.4 percent of the population of Côte d'Ivoire and is part of the large Mandé (also known as Manding) language group that inhabits the northwestern part of the country (Leclerc 24 Aug. 2018). According to Minority Rights Group International (MRG), the northern Manding or Mandé grouping, "also called Dioula," is the second-largest cultural cluster in the country (MRG 2008). The same source states that "the true Dioula," defined by culture, are from the historic region of Kong, are mostly Muslim and live in both northwest and southern Côte d'Ivoire (MRG 2008).

Sources note that the term "Dioula" is also used generically to designate [Muslim merchants (MRG 2008)] or [any person with a Muslim family name (Amnesty International Feb. 2013, 15)] from northern Côte d'Ivoire or other countries in the sub-region (Amnesty International Feb. 2013, 15; MRG 2008). According to MRG, this term can be used regardless of ethnic or cultural background (MRG 2008). In a report published in August 2007, Human Rights Watch explained the following:

The term "Djoula" or "Dioula" refers to a simple description of an ethnicity primarily from northeastern Côte d'Ivoire. However, it can also be somewhat pejorative and over the past decade, the term "Dioula" has come to mean more than just another ethnic group such as that of the "Baoulé." It often now encompasses northerners of Malinké, Sénoufo and other ethnicities, as well as foreigners and people of foreign origin like Ivorians of Burkinabé and Malian heritage. (Human Rights Watch Aug. 2007, 19)

Lawyer and consultant Mirna Adjami, a senior advisor to the UNHCR (Basel Institute on Governance n.d.), explains in a study on statelessness and nationality in Côte d'Ivoire conducted for the UNHCR that in the 1990s and 2000s, the concept of "ivoirité [Ivorianness]" took shape in Ivorian public discourse and that a "social mythology emerged whereby ethnic groups typically associated with Côte d'Ivoire's South held fast to their own authenticity as indigenous Ivorians in opposition to people from northern Côte d'Ivoire" (Adjami Dec. 2016, 11). She reports that, at that time, northern Ivorians and foreign migrants, mostly Muslims, had moved to the South for economic reasons, and it was then that inhabitants of that region began to treat them as "foreigners" and to call them indiscriminately "Dioulas" (Adjami Dec. 2016, 11). Christian Bouquet, a geographer interested in the political geography of African crises (LAM n.d.), in an article published in the monthly magazine Alternatives internationales, similarly reports that [translation] "the foreigners were stigmatized and the individuals originally from the northern part of the country, known by the generic term 'Dioulas', were progressively marginalized" (Bouquet 1 Dec. 2009). According to MRG, the introduction of the concept of "'ivoirité'" was intended, among other things, to exclude non-Ivorians from the political process and to prevent Alassane Ouattara, a Dioula, from running for office (MRG 2008). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. After the Civil War, from 2007 to 2008

Sources report that the Dioula, a group to which Alassane Ouattara belongs, were targeted by militias allied with the president, Laurent Gbagbo, during the civil war or the political-military crisis from 2002 to 2007 (Reuters 9 June 2016; Amnesty International 23 May 2007). MRG notes that during this conflict, the "Dioula clearly came down on the side of the northern rebels, first in the MPCI [Mouvement patriotique de Côte d'Ivoire], and later in the New Forces" (MRG 2008). According to sources, at the time the government was fighting with the northern New Forces rebels, with which the Dioula were associated (Amnesty International 23 May 2007; MRG 4 Mar. 2007). In addition, the UK Home Office states in an operational guidance note from August 2007 that "[s]erious societal and political tensions between the 'Ivorian' south and the immigrant 'non-Ivorian' groups in the north (regarded as non-citizens) continued in 2006" (UK Aug. 2007, para. 3.8.4).

However, information on the treatment of members of the Dioula ethnic group by authorities and society for the period from 2007 to 2008 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In June 2012, the UNHCR stated in its Interim Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Asylum-Seekers from Côte d'Ivoire that, "[m]embers of ethnic communities from the northern and central parts of the country are generally assumed to be proOuattara. These include the Bambara, Malinké and the northern Manding or Mandé grouping (also known as Dioula)" (UN 15 June 2012, 16). In February 2013, Amnesty International, referring to the involvement of Dozos (a militia of traditional hunters that supported Alassane Outtara during the postelection crisis) in the Ivorian conflict between 2003 and 2013, reports that they ensured the safety of those, including the Dioula, who were threatened and attacked by security forces and militias loyal to Laurent Gbagbo (Amnesty International Feb. 2013, 15). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Current Situation, from 2017 to April 2019

Information on the current treatment of members of the Dioula ethnic group by the authorities and society was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In August 2018, according to sources, a preacher or a pseudo-preacher was arrested in Côte d'Ivoire for having spread [translation] "'tribalistic'" and "'xenophobic'" comments on social networks by attacking the Dioula, whom he accused of wanting to subjugate other Ivorians (APA 4 Aug. 2018; AIP 3 Aug. 2018). According to the Agence de presse africaine (APA), the public prosecutor noted at the time [translation] "'such remarks [had] been increasing for some time'" (APA 4 Aug. 2018). According to both sources, the public prosecutor took the occasion to issue a reminder that such acts are punishable by imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, as well as fines, and that the Ivorian justice system would deal with them (APA 4 Aug. 2018; AIP 3 Aug. 2018). Article 200 of Law No. 2008-222 of August 4, 2008 Amending and Supplementing the Provisions of the Penal Code Relating to the Repression of Racism, Xenophobia, Tribalism, and Racial and Religious Discrimination (Loi no 2008-222 du 4 août 2008 modifiant et complétant les dispositions du Code pénal relatives à la répression du racisme, de la xénophobie, du tribalisme et des discriminations raciales et religieuses) provides the following:

[translation]

Anyone guilty of racism, xenophobia, tribalism, or racial or religious discrimination shall be punished by imprisonment of five to ten years and a fine of 500,000 to 5,000,000 CFA francs [C$1,146 to C$1,146,000]. (Côte d'Ivoire 2008)

In October 2018, according to an article by the Agence ivoirienne de presse (AIP), during a land dispute in the department of Béoumi, the village chief accused [translation] "the general political situation of the country" and "the difference in ethnicity" of having "encouraged misunderstandings" between them (the Dioula) and their Baoulé neighbours (AIP 29 Oct. 2018). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to a speech delivered in May 2016 by the party president of the New Alliance of Côte d'Ivoire for the Homeland (Nouvelle alliance de la Côte d'Ivoire pour la patrie) [or New Alliance of Côte d'Ivoire for Peace (Nouvelle alliance de la Côte d'Ivoire pour la paix)] (NACIP) [2] and reported by the independent daily newspaper L'Intelligent d'Abidjan, the popular belief remains that a conflict exists in Côte d'Ivoire [translation] "between Muslims and Christians, between Bété and Dioula, between the South and the North, between President Gbagbo and the Dioula" (L'Intelligent d'Abidjan 4 May 2016).

In an article on the economic difficulties faced by the Ivorian population, Le Monde reports the remarks of a disappointed Ivorian who said in March 2017 that power [translation] "'is held only by the Dioula', the people of the North of which the president is a member" (Le Monde 15 Mar. 2017).

In March 2018, L'Intelligent d'Abidjan reported the comments of the Deputy Secretary General of the Rally of the Republicans [Rassemblement des républicains, RDR], Mr. Ouattara's party, who suggested that certain political parties are seen as representing a particular ethnic group; for instance, the RDR is considered [translation] "a Dioula party," the P[DCI] [Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (Parti démocratique de Côte d'Ivoire)], a "Baoulé party" and the F[PI] [Ivorian Popular Front (Front populaire ivoirien)], a "Bété party" (L'Intelligent d'Abidjan 12 Mar. 2018). Similarly, according to the Ivorian daily newspaper Fraternité Matin, a government spokesperson, the Minister of Communication and Media, stated in September 2018 that the [translation] "political parties are ethnically segmented" (Fraternité Matin 21 Sept. 2018).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] L'Aménagement linguistique dans le monde is a Université Laval website that outlines the particular language situations and policies of 400 states or territories in the 195 (recognized) countries of the world (Leclerc n.d.).

[2] The Nouvelle alliance de la Côte d'Ivoire pour la paix (NACIP), [translation] "a movement close to Charles Blé Goudé's Alliance des jeunes patriotes," was transformed into a political party in 2012 by a pro-Gbagbo Lebanese man, "'Sam-the-African'," who intended to run for legislative and municipal elections in 2016 (VOA Afrique 12 May 2016).

References

Adjami, Mirna. December 2016. Statelessness and Nationality in Côte d'Ivoire: A Study for UNHCR. UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). [Accessed 22 Mar. 2019]

Les Afriques dans le monde (LAM). N.d. "Christian Bouquet." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2019]

Agence ivoirienne de presse (AIP). 29 October 2018. "Côte d'Ivoire/Une dizaine de blessés et des dégâts matériels enregistrés dans un conflit foncier à Marabadjassa (dossier)." [Accessed 22 Mar. 2019]

Agence ivoirienne de presse (AIP). 3 August 2018. "Côte d'Ivoire/ Le pasteur Israël N'Goran risque 10 ans de prison pour incitation à la haine (Procureur Adou)." (Factiva) [Accessed 3 Apr. 2019]

Agence de presse africaine (APA). 4 August 2018. "Une information judiciaire ouverte contre un pseudo-pasteur pour des propos tribalistes sur la toile." [Accessed 4 Apr. 2019]

Amnesty International. February 2013. Côte d'Ivoire : la loi des vainqueurs - La situation des droits humains deux ans après la crise post-électorale. (AFR 31/001/2013) [Accessed 3 Apr. 2019]

Amnesty International. 23 May 2007. "Côte d'Ivoire." Amnesty International Report 2007. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2019]

Basel Institute on Governance. N.d. "Mirna Adjami." [Accessed 9 Apr. 2019]

Bouquet, Christian. 1 December 2009. "Côte d'Ivoire : aux origines d'une fracture." Alternatives internationales. No. 45. (Factiva) [Accessed 2 Apr. 2019]

Côte d'Ivoire. 2008. Loi no 2008-222 du 4 août 2008 modifiant et complétant les dispositions du Code pénal relatives à la répression du racisme, de la xénophobie, du tribalisme et des discriminations raciales et religieuses. [Accessed 4 Apr. 2019]

Fraternité Matin. 21 September 2018. "Sidi Touré – 'Le RHDP a donné à la Côte d'Ivoire des années de stabilité et de développement'." [Accessed 3 Apr. 2019]

Human Rights Watch. August 2007. "My Heart Is Cut": Sexual Violence by Rebels and Pro-Government Forces in Côte d'Ivoire. [Accessed 4 Apr. 2019]

L'Intelligent d'Abidjan. 12 March 2018. "RHDP - Touré Mamadou contre une insulte à la mémoire ceux qui sont morts." (Factiva) [Accessed 25 Mar. 2019]

L'Intelligent d'Abidjan. 4 May 2016. "Sam l'Africain au président Alassane Ouattara depuis Daloa : 'Sans Gbagbo, il n'y aura pas de paix en Côte d'Ivoire.'" (Factiva) [Accessed 25 Mar. 2019]

Leclerc, Jacques. 24 August 2018. "Côte d'Ivoire." L'Aménagement linguistique dans le monde, Chaire pour le développement de la recherche sur la culture d'expression française en Amérique du Nord (CEFAN), Université Laval, Québec. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2019]

Leclerc, Jacques. N.d. "L'Aménagement linguistique dans le monde." Chaire pour le développement de la recherche sur la culture d'expression française en Amérique du Nord (CEFAN), Université Laval, Québec. [Accessed 5 Apr. 2019]

Minority Rights Group International (MRG). 2008. "Manding (Dioula)." World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2019]

Minority Rights Group International (MRG). 4 March 2007. "Côte d'Ivoire." State of the World's Minorities 2007. [Accessed 4 Apr. 2019]

Le Monde. 15 March 2017. Cyril Bensimon. "En Côte d'Ivoire, le président Alassane Ouattara confronté à la grogne sociale." [Accessed 25 Mar. 2019]

Reuters. 9 June 2016. Joe Bavier. "Ivory Coast Land Disputes Threaten New Violence as War Refugees Return." [Accessed 3 Apr. 2019]

United Kingdom (UK). August 2007. Home Office. Operational Guidance Note: Ivory Coast. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2019]

United Nations (UN). 15 June 2012. UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Interim Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Asylum-Seekers from Cote d'Ivoire. (HCR/EG/CIV/12/01) [Accessed 22 Mar. 2019]

Voice of America (VOA) Afrique. 12 May 2016. "'Sam l'Africain', le Libanais pro-Gbagbo qui veut être député en Côte d'Ivoire." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2019]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: BBC – Country Profiles; Côte d'Ivoire – Official government portal; ecoi.net; Ethnologue; Freedom House; International Crisis Group; Ireland – Refugee Documentation Centre; UN – Country of Origin Research and Information; US – Department of State.