Rising tensions are escalating along the Ivory Coast-Burkina Faso border, fueled by both the expanding jihadist threat originating in the Sahel region and the emergence of a new security concern. The presence of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP), a Burkinabé army auxiliary force, is contributing to the instability. These VDPs, created to support Burkina Faso’s military, are now a source of worry for Ivorian authorities. The situation represents a complex security challenge for Ivory Coast, facing threats from multiple actors. FRANCE 24 reports that the tension is now a constant reality in the northeastern border region. The increasing instability highlights the difficulty of containing conflict within national borders in the Sahel.