Clashes in northeast Ivory Coast kill 20, displace 1,300

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – Ivory Coast's U.N. peacekeeping mission plans to double its troop presence in part of the country's northeast after clashes this month between farmers and herders killed at least 20 people and sent more than 1,000 fleeing into neighboring Burkina Faso.

Mission spokeswoman Kadidia Ledron said Tuesday that 400 U.N. troops — up from 200 — will be stationed in the Bounkani region along with reinforcements from Ivory Coast's army.

Ivorian state media on Monday quoted army chief of staff Gen. Soumaila Bakayoko as saying the number of Ivorian troops would climb from 500 to 700 in the region 600 kilometers (370 miles) north of Abidjan, the commercial center.

Yaya Sanou, high commissioner of Burkina Faso's Noumbiel province, said Monday that local officials recorded 1,312 people fleeing the clashes.