INTRODUCTION

Juvenile delinquency in view of the above is essentially part of deterministic

theoretical perspectives, namely that it is society which produces juvenile
violence. Thus, to avoid being dependent on conflicts of interpretation or media
debates which often take place around juvenile delinquency orchestrated by
“microbes”, it appears necessary to question the causes of the phenomenon to
better understand it. This approach will lead us to adopt a certain caution in the
face of all kinds of myths and stereotypes linked to the phenomenon of
“microbes” in Abidjan.
This form of juvenile delinquency has become so serious that it is the subject of
a television series scripted by Alex Ogou, produced by TSK STUDIOS with one
co-produced by Canal+ International written: Invisibles.
This study, which participates in a debate already widely initiated by the media
and public authorities on the phenomenon of “microbes”, aims to analyze its
causes to better understand and explain it. To do this, we are asked a certain
number of questions:
• Isn't the identity of “microbes” attributed to young delinquents stigmatizing?
• What is the sociodemographic profile of “microbes”?
• What is the mode of operation of “microbes”?
• What is the criminal ideology of “microbes”?
The results of this study will be structured around the description and analysis of
the causes of the “microbe” phenomenon. These results will be prior to the
presentation of the working methodology.
I. DEFINITION
1. Definition of microbes
In Ivory Coast, microbes are the name given to child criminals. These children,
who most often come from the streets, display extreme violence in the crimes
they commit.
2. Isn’t the identity of “microbes” attributed to young delinquents
stigmatizing?
The literature survey consulted shows that the identity of “microbe” is a
caricature of the young delinquents who attack, in hordes and using blunt
objects, the populations in the streets of Abidjan, since the end of the post-
election crisis. This concept, which refers to microscopic unicellular organisms,
factors of infectious diseases, reflects the disapproval of the reference group
with regard to the deviant behavior of these young people.
 Their identity, thus reduced to this label of “microbe”, can lead populations
and public authorities to hygienic practices aimed at eradicating them so that the
social body is better off. This social reaction, induced by a demeaning and
simplifying view, materializes in rejection, hostility and a security approach to
the phenomenon (expeditious police and lynching to death of alleged
“microbes”).
 Stigma also causes some of these young people to internalize society's
negative attitudes towards them and end up thinking that they deserve this
negative opinion. Such a situation leads certain “microbes” to experience
feelings of exclusion and rejection and consequently to accept this negative
opinion which further distances them from the possibility of leaving the criminal
gangs to which they belong. We can therefore say that stigma and its
consequences undermine the reintegration of these young delinquents who often
simply need to be supported to adopt pro-social behavior.

II. CAUSES
The microbes are made up mainly of children from disadvantaged areas of
Abidjan and therefore very poor. They are most often minors who have dropped
out of school or are illiterate, idle, disinherited or abandoned by their parents. In
2011, at the end of the post-electoral crisis, Côte d'Ivoire noticed that children,
mainly aged eight to seventeen, were in the streets armed with weapons. They
attack, steal, terrorize and sometimes kill their victims. They act in groups, and
most often under the influence of drugs.
1. A similar sociodemographic profile
As for the socio-demographic profile of the “microbes”, we can note that they
are approximately between 10 and 20 years old in general - this is also the most
active age group in the field. But it happens that younger people (under 10 years
old) and older people (over 20 years old) participate in the actions of these
criminal gangs – the older ones generally protect the younger ones and it is they
who often sponsor the attacks. . The members of these gangs are mainly male
and often drug users.
III. ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES OF THE “MICROBE”
PHENOMENON
1. Delinquency to fight against family poverty
After the end of the political-military crisis of 2011, Côte d'Ivoire is in an
apparently rosy economic situation, with a growth rate of 8%, but from which
not all social categories seem to be receiving the dividends. Indeed, as evidenced
by a survey on the standard of living of households in Côte d'Ivoire (INS-ENV,
2015), poverty increased with the post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011. The
poverty rate is estimated at 46%. The investigation of The field shows that in
neighborhoods of the Abidjan metropolitan area, where families are tormented
by poverty and unemployment, there is poor supervision of children. The latter,
generally left to their own devices in most cases, join neighborhood criminal
gangs likely to enable them to meet the needs for money and food, which their
parents cannot provide them. Investigations have shown that the delinquency of
these young people exists mainly to cope with family poverty. They join gangs
of “microbes” and the income from the delinquent activities they carry out
therefore benefits the whole family – food, health care, children’s education.
These “microbe” children and adolescents are victims of delicate family
conditions, precariousness, illiteracy, and dropping out of school. These kids
have a very visible physical presence in the streets where they often work as
apprentices, loaders, shoeshine boys, street sellers.

I. CONSEQUENCES
“MICROBES” PHENOMENON: CONSEQUENCE OF GROWING
POVERTY “The microbes” are young people aged twelve to twenty who
terrorize the populations of poor neighborhoods through acts of banditry and
aggression of all kinds. In our neighborhoods the mention of “microbe” arouses
great fear.
1. A modus operandi based on brutality and violence
“Gerbes”, unlike other petty street criminals, are known to be ultra-violent. They
are no longer content with petty crime, namely snatching, theft with intimidation
or from vehicles, theft, petty drug trafficking. Rather, they form armed bands to
attack populations, which they traumatize. Indeed, armed with machetes, knives,
sickles, clubs and hammers, the “microbes” generally invade spontaneously and
in impressive numbers – one or several dozen kids – the streets of working-class
neighborhoods with their faces uncovered and attack very violently towards
passers-by whom they injure and kill before dispossessing them of their property
– money, cell phones, watches and jewelry. Also, it must be emphasized that this
incredible violence that they demonstrate is fueled more by sadistic fantasies –
they take pleasure in seeing their victims die in an atrocious way – and appears
as a mark of bravery and ferocity. The murderous actions of these gangs of kids
then aim to create terror and desolation within the populations and confer
prestige on the attackers.

V. SOLUTIONS
Dr Ballo Yacouba, teacher-researcher at the UFR of criminology at the Félix
Houphouët Boigny University of Cocody, on Onuci Fm, approached solutions,
on Monday August 24, 2015, to fight against this phenomenon which started in
Abobo , few months ago. “To fight against the phenomenon and to be truly
operational, there is a whole strategy to implement. The first is to first take stock
of everything we know about this phenomenon. We need to establish a clear
profile of the phenomenon. Today, there are scraps of information and
knowledge. I had the idea of an international workshop, comparison is not right.
The phenomenon of urban delinquency is not new. There are good practices that
exist. It would just take political will to organize a workshop, listen to civil
society, journalists, researchers, etc. “, immediately launched the criminologist.
For him, it is from there that we will establish a profile and a policy of fight, in
the short, medium and long term to fight sustainably against the phenomenon of
microbes. “As long as we do not embrace this dynamic, our policy of struggle
will be based on emotion. We must get out of emotion and find other means or
alternatives and fight against the criminal phenomenon in all its forms in Côte
d'Ivoire,” he concluded.
 CONCLUSION
The study shows that the phenomenon of “microbes” is a significant reality of
criminal activity in Abidjan. It is the work of vulnerable individuals whose age
is approximately between 10 and 20 years old in general, although it happens
that younger and older people participate in the actions of these criminal gangs.
These children and adolescents, victims of delicate family conditions,
precariousness, illiteracy and dropping out of school, form armed gangs
(machetes, knives, sickles, clubs and hammers), spontaneously and in
impressive numbers take over the streets and very violently attack passers-by,
dispossessing them of their property.
The results of the survey show that the phenomenon of “microbes” is linked to
the economic poverty of families, which leads children to delinquency to meet
their needs together. This violent crime is also committed by young people who,
through their reprehensible actions, denounce exclusion from global society. The
phenomenon of “microbes” is thus and also the expression of the discontent of
child soldiers used during the post-electoral crisis and returned to civilian life
without having been resocialized.
 SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
I. DEFINITION
1. Definition of microbes
2. Isn’t the identity of “microbes” attributed to
young delinquents stigmatizing?
II. CAUSES
1. A similar sociodemographic profile
III. ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES OF THE
“MICROBE” PHENOMENON
1. Delinquency to fight against family poverty
I. CONSEQUENCES
1. A modus operandi based on brutality and
violence
V. SOLUTIONS
CONCLUSION