Abidjan: Throughout French-speaking Africa, street children are an all-too-common phenomenon. Although different names are used to describe these children, they all refer to the same precarious reality.
According to Global Voices, the International Catholic Child Bureau (BICE) reported in 2021 that there were over 120 million street children worldwide, including 30 million in Africa. This number is projected to reach 35 million in Africa by 2025. Despite this growing crisis, many African governments have yet to fully address this issue within their development policies.
Numerous factors contribute to children ending up on the streets. Humanium, an international NGO based in Switzerland, has identified socio-cultural discrimination as a significant factor. In some communities, children are wrongly accused of witchcraft, leading to their expulsion from their homes.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the term “Shégué” is used to describe street children. Typically, these children are abandoned or rejected by their families due to poverty or fear of witchcraft. To survive, many shégués join armed gangs, known as Kulunas, which are involved in extreme violence, theft, and other criminal activities in Kinshasa, the capital.
In Côte d’Ivoire, street children are referred to as “microbes.” These children, often involved in armed robberies and killings, are forced to support their families instead of attending school and enjoying their childhood. The microbe phenomenon has played a significant role in political crises, notably during the 2021 unrest that led to the arrest of former President Laurent Gbagbo.
The plight of these children has inspired media portrayals, such as the television series “Invisibles,” directed by Alex Ogou. This series highlights the struggles faced by street children in Côte d’Ivoire and aims to raise awareness of their challenging circumstances.