Anthropology of the social organization of drug dens in the cities of Abidjan and Yamoussoukro (Ivory Coast)

Abstract

The sociopolitical crisis that Côte d'Ivoire went through, culminating in the armed conflict of 2010-2011, facilitated the intensification of drug trafficking and consumption, particularly in spaces known as "drug dens." This ethnographic study, conducted between March and July 2021, aims to analyse the social organisation of these drug dens in Abidjan and Yamoussoukro. It involved immersion in 19 drug dens, including 13 in Abidjan and 6 in Yamoussoukro. Data was collected through direct observations and semi-structured interviews with 95 individuals involved in drug trafficking and consumption. The results show that drug dens constitute structured micro-societies, organized around a hierarchical system both internally and externally, with subtle differences between Abidjan and Yamoussoukro. Each drug den is led by a chief, called the "Babatchè," assisted by a team comprising guards (lookouts), the "banqueteur" (filter), the "Kamoracien" (seller), the "Bôrôtigui" (stock manager), the "Zébier" (logistician), the receiver, the "Bana-bana", the "chien" (security guard), and the users, referred to as "Djonki" or "djôlô." This rigid and well-defined organization enables drug dens to establish themselves gradually, operate discreetly, and thus evade the vigilance of law enforcement and the hostility of local communities.