For two weeks, 1,300 soldiers from 29 countries were trained in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to better combat the terrorist threat. This training was notably organized by the special operation of the US Africa Command.
With our special correspondent in Jacqueville, Bineta Diagne
Two armed groups met in an abandoned building in the middle of the forest. After a few moments, armed forces appear and discreetly enter this building. Their objective: to capture targets considered to be ” high value without killing them. All in a hostile environment. Major Nick, oversee this training.
” When you first enter a house, you don’t know how it is laid out inside. And things are constantly changing, because individuals are on the move. There are many obstacles: tables, chairs, beds… these are also potential hiding places. »
For two weeks, the soldiers trained in particular to collect and analyze information. This exercise is organized regularly since 2005. For the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, General Lassina Doumbia, this makes it possible to adapt to the threat of armed terrorist groups.
” It allows us to anticipate the mutation of the threat. Terrorist armed groups evolve in their methods, so we need to have constantly updated capabilities. And to do so, it is the sharing of experience, know-how with other units, which allows our specialized units to be up to date. »
Beyond techniques for combating threats, the challenge is also to ” protect civilians », underlines Jessica Davis Ba, the ambassador of the United States in Côte d’Ivoire, at the end of this training.
►Also read: Côte d’Ivoire strengthens its military forces (in 2021)