Benin, Ghana and Togo establish framework for voluntary return of Burkinabè refugees

Benin, Ghana, and Togo signed three tripartite agreements on September 11 in Lomé, alongside Burkina Faso and the UNHCR, to facilitate the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Burkinabè refugees when conditions allow.

The agreements outline mechanisms for consultation and monitoring aimed at preparing return operations and reintegration. They do not, however, trigger an immediate repatriation. The Togolese Ministry of Security emphasizes that returns must remain voluntary and occur under conditions that ensure the safety and dignity of the individuals involved.

This measure addresses a sub-region where displacement from Burkina Faso has significantly increased. By the end of 2025, over 170,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Burkina Faso, were recorded in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, according to data presented during the Lomé Dialogue.

In Benin, more than 4,000 Burkinabè refugees were already hosted in the northern part of the country as of July 2024. The new regional framework aims to facilitate returns without undermining the protection obligations of host states.

The signing concluded the second ministerial meeting of the Lomé Dialogue, held from September 9 to 11. Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana participated in the discussions with the support of the UNHCR, while Mali and Niger attended as observers.

The UNHCR reports that forced displacement remains high in West and Central Africa despite an increase in voluntary returns. As of April 2026, the agency counted nearly 20 million forcibly displaced persons or stateless individuals in the region, including 3.9 million refugees and asylum seekers.

Côte d’Ivoire has not signed a similar agreement in Lomé. It continues consultations with Burkina Faso and the UNHCR with the aim of establishing its own tripartite arrangement.