Abidjan is preparing the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire to embrace an advanced American facility to operate the drones, in a move that reflects the growing military cooperation with the United States, especially in the field of combating the so -called terrorism in the West Africa region.
This project was announced during a meeting that brought together Ivorian Defense Minister Tiny Etitima Pattara at the US Ambassador Jessica Defies Ba and the US Command in Africa (Africom) General Michael Langley in the capital, Abidjan.
A shift in the American approach
During the meeting, the two sides stressed that the project does not include establishing a traditional American military base, but is limited to establishing a facility to operate drones equipped with the latest technologies, to support air control efforts and address security threats.
General Langley had initially suggested building this facility in the northern city of Korjo, but the Ivorian authorities rejected the proposal, considering that near the site to a commercial airport makes the project unclean.
Instead, the government decided to allocate part of the military air base in the city of Bouakier (in the center of the country) to implement the project.
A partnership based on “mutual respect”
The United States expressed its satisfaction with the quality of the military partnership with Cote d’Ivoire, especially with regard to combating terrorism and violent extremism in the region.
The American Ambassador praised what she described as “effective cooperation and mutual respect” between the American and Ivorian armies, especially in the areas of development of technical and operational capabilities and the exchange of intelligence.
For its part, the Ivorian authorities renewed their commitment to strengthening this partnership and creating the necessary conditions for the success of security and military cooperation with Washington, in light of the growing terrorist threats in some neighboring countries, especially in the Sahel region.
Tense security background
This project comes in light of the escalation of security tensions in West Africa, where several countries face increasing challenges due to the spread of armed groups associated with al -Qaeda and the Islamic State.
The existence of these organizations has prompted international powers such as the United States to enhance their security and military presence through bilateral partnerships, without the need to establish permanent bases that may spark controversy.
Through these facilities, Washington seeks to support the capabilities of partner countries to monitor and deal with them in a proactive manner while respecting the national sovereignty of these countries.
