Côte d’Ivoire has said it is open to restoring security cooperation with Mali and Burkina Faso to better counter the growing threat of jihadist violence in West Africa, Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara said during a visit to France for the Eurosatory defence exhibition.
Speaking on the sidelines of the international arms and security forum, Ouattara stressed that no single country can defeat terrorism alone, calling for stronger regional coordination and joint operational frameworks.
“Côte d’Ivoire is ready to cooperate with its neighbours if the conditions allow it. Terrorism cannot be defeated by one state alone; there must be collaboration and pooling of forces,” he said.
According to the minister, discussions had previously been initiated with Burkina Faso on conducting joint operations along border areas before cooperation mechanisms were suspended in 2024 amid rising diplomatic tensions between Abidjan and the military-led governments in Bamako and Ouagadougou.
The Ivorian government considers cross-border coordination essential to securing vulnerable northern regions, where extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have expanded their influence across the Sahel.
Ouattara also indicated that around 3,000 troops are currently deployed in northern Côte d’Ivoire as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts, alongside development programs aimed at addressing poverty and reducing the risk of radicalisation.
The minister further described defence cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and France as “exemplary,” particularly in intelligence sharing, training, and military equipment support.
Relations between Côte d’Ivoire and its Sahelian neighbours have been strained in recent years following coups in Mali (2020) and Burkina Faso (2022), which led to the suspension of several joint security initiatives.
However, recent diplomatic signals suggest a cautious opening toward renewed dialogue, as regional states face mounting pressure from escalating insecurity across the Sahel and coastal West Africa.