Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire have signed their first-ever agreement on military cooperation. The landmark deal was reached during a meeting of defense ministers in Rabat, as reported by RFI.
The agreement focuses on strengthening collaboration and sharing expertise across several key areas, such as training, military medicine, and technical support. Under the terms of the document, both Rabat and Abidjan have also committed to conducting joint military exercises and further exchanges of knowledge between their armed forces.
Morocco plays a significant role in military training for Côte d'Ivoire, serving as the country's second most important partner in this domain. Each year, approximately one hundred officers and personnel from Côte d'Ivoire's army, special forces, navy, and gendarmerie are sent to Morocco for advanced training, including studies at the prestigious Royal Military Academy in Meknes.
In turn, Moroccan military instructors are regularly deployed to Côte d'Ivoire for training missions, contributing to the professional development of local forces and fostering deeper ties between the two nations' defense sectors.
This new agreement marks an important milestone in bilateral relations, promoting enhanced stability and security in West Africa and beyond. It also follows recent moves by Morocco to strengthen its military partnerships across Africa. For example, earlier this year, Ethiopia and Morocco agreed to explore a potential military partnership during an official visit by General Inspector of Morocco's Royal Armed Forces, Mohamed Berrid, to the East African nation.
Overall, the agreement between Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire reflects a growing trend of African countries working together more closely to address security challenges and pursue joint development in the defense sector.
