Côte d’Ivoire has formally granted refugee status to more than 70,000 people fleeing violence in Burkina Faso and Mali, marking one of the country’s largest humanitarian decisions in recent years.

According to a new report by the UN Refugee Agency and the national body responsible for refugee affairs, over 69,000 Burkinabe asylum seekers and about 1,500 Malians have now been officially recognized as refugees.

The move represents a significant shift in national policy and substantially increases the country’s refugee population, offering displaced families greater legal protection and access to essential services.