The Chiefs of Staff of the Ivorian and Beninese armed forces—Lieutenant General Lassina Doumbia and Major General Gbaguidi Fructueux Candide—are meeting in Abidjan from July 16 to 19, 2025, to formalize a strategic and operational military partnership.
Accompanied by high-level delegations, both sides will define the framework for enhanced cooperation, focusing on joint training, intelligence sharing, and strengthening troop capabilities in the face of common security threats, including terrorism, transnational crime, and resource predation.
Discussions will also address regional instability, particularly the influx of over 80,000 Burkinabe refugees into northern Côte d’Ivoire fleeing jihadist violence.
The talks aim to reinforce security protocols and bolster the resilience of both armies, with additional expertise provided by the French military.
French Army Chief of Staff, General Thierry Burkhard, is expected to be in Côte d’Ivoire during the same period, lending strategic input to the evolving Gulf of Guinea defense collaboration.
