The Paradox of the Fight Against Child Labor in Cote D’Ivoire: the Phenomenon of “Microbes”

Abstract

Despite the Ivorian government's efforts to combat trafficking, exploitation and child labor, another kind of child labor is expanding in Ivorian capital. These are groups of young and very young delinquent children who have been terrorists in the popular quarts of Abidjan since the day after the post-election crisis of April 2011. With knives and sometimes guns, they attack anyone. Protected by former rebels according to some sources or by the strongmen of the road stations, they engage as much in the traffic of drugs as in the racket of the drivers of collective taxis (Gbaka). The reaction of the authorities is slow to bear fruit and the inhabitants of the neighborhoods are organizing to do justice themselves.

Keywords: Paradox, fight, child labor, Cote d’Ivoire, microbes.

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/88-15

Publication date: August 31^st 2019