Côte d’Ivoire strengthens defense ties with Morocco and Guinea

Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco held the inaugural meeting of a joint military commission in Abidjan on September 16-17, 2026. This meeting follows a bilateral defense agreement signed in Rabat in May 2025. The commission is designed to monitor, assess, and coordinate defense cooperation, with annual meetings alternating between the two nations. Discussions focused on training, logistics, intelligence, and the development of an operational roadmap for 2027.

This security strengthening comes as Côte d’Ivoire manages risks from terrorism in its northern border regions, organized crime, and illegal mining. Simultaneously, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea are seeking to deepen their own strategic ties. During a meeting on September 13, 2026, leaders Alassane Ouattara and Mamadi Doumbouya prioritized intelligence sharing and cooperation against cross-border crime and terrorism to address evolving threats in the West African region.