Strategic Partnership Signed Between the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FACI) and the State of Pennsylvania (USA)

General of the Army Lassina Doumbia, Chief of the Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FACI), has been leading a high-level delegation of senior Ivorian military officers on an official working visit to the United States since Monday, June 22, 2026. The visit is part of the implementation of the strategic partnership between the FACI and the Pennsylvania National Guard.

One year ago, the FACI expressed their intention to join the U.S. Government’s State Partnership Program (SPP). Following its official launch in December 2025 in Abidjan, the partnership agreement was formally signed on Thursday, June 25, at the historic Armory building in Philadelphia by General Lassina Doumbia and General Jo Pippy, Commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of the U.S. Departments responsible for African Affairs and Defense. Côte d’Ivoire was represented by its Ambassador to the United States and the Minister of Sports, who joined the official delegation.

Under the agreement, both parties committed to cooperating across four major areas:

• Training and interoperability of military units;

• Counterterrorism and the fight against violent extremism;

• Cyber defense and the security of digital infrastructure;

• Operational medical support and disaster response.

The partnership is expected to provide the FACI with access to advanced military training through the Pennsylvania National Guard’s academies and training facilities, particularly in land-air operations and cyber capabilities. The Ivorian Armed Forces also aim to strengthen their expertise in combat trauma care and emergency response during major natural disasters.

During the visit, the Ivorian delegation toured the Pennsylvania National Guard’s military base, training schools, operational training sites, defense research and development centers, as well as the Penn Presbyterian Trauma Center in Philadelphia.

An American delegation is expected in Abidjan from July 14, 2026, to officially launch the first activities under the partnership.