Ivorian Minister of Interior and Security Vagondo Diomandé on Monday, July 6, 2026, launched in Abidjan-Plateau the project titled “Strengthening Border Management Capacities and Community Resilience Against Threats to Security and Stability in Northern Côte d’Ivoire.”
Funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the initiative also included the mid-term review of the pilot phase of the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), deployed at the Kalamon border post, along the Côte d’Ivoire–Burkina Faso border.
The minister said the project will strengthen the operational capacities of the Kalamon and Koguienou border posts through the construction of housing facilities for security forces, the rehabilitation and upgrading of existing infrastructure, as well as the modernization of workspaces.
“A well-secured border is not a closed border. It protects without obstructing, facilitates legitimate exchanges, strengthens the confidence of communities and investors, and contributes sustainably to peace and development,” said Vagondo Diomandé.
He stressed that the initiative reflects Côte d’Ivoire’s progress in modernizing border management and strengthens cooperation with Japan and the IOM in addressing security challenges, including terrorism, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, illicit arms trade, and document fraud.
Vagondo Diomandé also welcomed the first results of the MIDAS system, which has been operational at Kalamon since April 1, 2026. According to the minister, the tool improves traveler identification, migration flow monitoring, the detection of fraudulent documents, and risk analysis, while strengthening coordination between border security services.
IOM Chief of Mission in Côte d’Ivoire, David Preux, recalled that the pilot deployment of MIDAS represents a first for the country. He explained that the system enables the real-time collection, processing, and analysis of traveler data.
He also announced that eight national administrators and twenty immigration police officers have already been trained, while reaffirming the organization’s commitment to supporting the expansion of MIDAS to other border posts.
For his part, Japan’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Junji Gomakubo, announced funding of approximately 400 million CFA francs to support the new project. The funding will contribute to the continued modernization of border posts, capacity-building for officers through the MIDAS system, and the development of social and water infrastructure for border communities.
Scheduled to run from March 31, 2026, to March 30, 2027, the project is part of the Côte d’Ivoire government’s strategy to strengthen border security while promoting the development of border areas.