At the Crossroads: Strengthening Governance in Borderlands

Aka Kouadio Bertin makes the same motorbike trip to Kalamon nearly every day. The infrastructure engineer with the International Organization for Migration oversees the construction of a one stop shop border post on the Ivorian-Burkinabè border, a facility that could redefine the social fabric across the region. In Kalamon, the border is little more than a marker stone; it is an invisible line with real consequences. That blurred boundary is a source of deep worry for Village Chief Ouattara Seydou, who voices a concern shared by many.

The instability in the region creates a constant sense of insecurity. As a crossroads area, we need real protection against cross-border criminal activity and incursions.

That very vulnerability is what IOM’s “Strengthening the Northern Borders of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo” project sets out to address. Launched in September 2021, the initiative seeks to boost the capacity of border governance agencies to respond to emerging threats while enhancing the resilience of communities living in borderlands.

But the construction site in Kalamon quickly revealed its challenges. “The ground here is incredibly hard,” says Aka Bertin. “I had to personally step in and help the workers adjust our excavation techniques.”

At other posts, officers literally climb onto rooftops to monitor activity,” Bertin explains. “Here, the watchtower offers a proper vantage point, greatly improving surveillance efficiency.

Despite issues related to access, especially during the rainy season, the enthusiasm of Kalamon’s residents has made daily operations smoother. For this community, this isn’t just a border post; it’s a beacon of hope and stability in uncertain times.

Completed in September 2024, the border post marked a major milestone. It was officially inaugurated on September 22, 2025, and became fully operational just days later, on September 26. It now stands as a living symbol of the successful collaboration between the IOM and the Ivorian government.

“I’m proud to have contributed to an infrastructure that truly improves people’s lives,” says Aka Bertin, whose tireless commitment along this dusty road has paved the way for a safer border.

The Kalamon border post was constructed as part of the project “Strengthening the Northern Borders of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo”, funded by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
 

This article was written by Abdoulaye Mamadou Soukouna, IBSM Communications Coordinator – asoukouna@iom.int.