• Dozo hunters to help secure herds alongside security forces

• Agreement responds to thefts affecting thousands of cattle in northern regions

Côte d’Ivoire’s interprofessional organisation for large ruminants (OIA-GRCI) and the National Federation of the Dozo Brotherhood of Côte d’Ivoire (FENACODOCI) signed a partnership agreement on Wednesday aimed at stepping up efforts to curb livestock theft.

According to the Ivorian press agency AIP, the two organisations agreed to cooperate in accordance with Ivorian law, particularly legislation governing transhumance.

The Dozo brotherhood is a federation of traditional hunters involved in providing security in rural areas. Under the agreement, its members will take part in protecting livestock and responding to theft, in coordination with local and national authorities.

The partnership also includes efforts to secure funding from partners to improve livestock security, build capacity within both organisations and strengthen coordination with defence and security forces.

“By joining forces and working within the law, we can put an end to a practice that harms both livestock farmers and rural communities,” said FENACODOCI president Sory Dosso.

The agreement comes against a backdrop of rising livestock theft in Côte d’Ivoire. In June, farmers in the Ferkessédougou area warned authorities about growing insecurity affecting their herds. Local breeders told AIP that around 2,000 head of cattle were stolen in the first quarter of 2025 in the localities of Tièpké, Nambonkaha and Nambiriguékaha.

More recently, the Korhogo unit of the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) said on Dec. 12 that it had dismantled a livestock theft network, underscoring that the problem remains widespread in other parts of the country.

It remains unclear how far FENACODOCI’s involvement will alter the management of livestock security nationwide.

Stéphanas Assocle