Rising Together: How Foro Village’s Crisis Simulation Empowers Communities for Tomorrow
In northern Côte d'Ivoire, a peaceful farming community discovers the power of solidarity through a crisis simulation.
The morning silence of Foro village was deliberately disrupted. What began as another tranquil day in this mountain-nestled community near the Mali and Burkina Faso borders suddenly erupted into controlled chaos, a full-scale crisis simulation that would test not just emergency protocols, but the very soul of a community.
Soro Dramane adjusts his crisp white shirt and surveys the unfolding scene with the measured gaze of someone accustomed to solving problems. In his sixties, this retired commercial engineer has found new purpose as president of Foro's Development Collective. Today, he's orchestrating something unprecedented: his entire village playing host to simulated sudden population displacement.
I organized a human chain to welcome the populations," Dramane recalls, his voice carrying quiet satisfaction. "It wasn't just an exercise - it became real the moment our neighbors needed help.
Since early 2022, northern Côte d’Ivoire has seen an influx of people fleeing the ongoing conflict in neighbouring countries. This sudden displacement, combined with existing challenges from flooding and insecurity, has put pressure on local communities. In this context, crisis simulation exercises like this one are essential as they encompass operations conducted before, during, and after a humanitarian crisis involving large-scale cross-border movements.
The exercise's impact rippled beyond its scripted boundaries. What started as a test of crisis management structures in the Foro region revealed something more profound: a community's capacity for immediate, coordinated response.
The alert triggered our entire administrative system," Dramane explains, pride evident in his weathered features. "Authorities responded swiftly because they saw our readiness. This proved that solidarity isn't just a concept here—it's who we are, even as we remain appropriately cautious.
That caution stems from hard geographic reality. Foro sits at a strategic crossroads to Mali and Burkina Faso, both grappling with violent extremism. The village's pastoral calm belies its frontline position in a volatile region.
The simulation achieved an unexpected outcome: transforming the relationship between villagers and security forces. What had been formal interactions evolved into genuine partnership.
"Today, our law enforcement officers know each villager personally," Dramane notes. "We share meals together, maintain relationships built on respect and brotherhood. The SIMEX made this closeness possible."
This transformation reflects a deeper understanding of security, one that recognizes human connections as the foundation of lasting peace.
For Dramane, the exercise crystallized a philosophy that transcends political boundaries. His vision extends beyond crisis response to community resilience across artificial dividing lines.
"Borders are just lines drawn on a map," he reflects, his gaze shifting toward the distant borders that both define and connect his world. "On the other side, we have brothers and sisters. We must cultivate this solidarity and pass it to our youth, so they'll be ready – on both sides – to welcome and support each other when crisis comes."
The Foro simulation, conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with Côte d'Ivoire's National Border Commission, represents more than emergency preparedness. As part of the U.S. Department of State's "Strengthening the Northern Borders of Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo" initiative, it demonstrates how communities can become active partners in regional security.
In an age when borders often symbolize division, Foro village offers a different narrative, one where preparedness and solidarity transform potential vulnerability into collective strength.
This article was written by Abdoulaye Mamadou Soukouna, IBSM Communications Coordinator – asoukouna@iom.int.