A Shared Commitment Between Authorities and Partners
Civil-Military Seminar Strengthens Dialogue in Bouaké
On 8–9 October 2025, the city of Bouaké hosted a civil-military seminar on “Counterterrorism: A Shared Responsibility”, an initiative of the SIPODI Programme of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in cooperation with the Ivorian military authorities, especially the units based in Bouaké and Yamoussoukro.
The seminar brought together senior and junior officers, civil-society representatives, academics, and community leaders with a common goal: to enhance civil-military cooperation for a coordinated and sustainable response to terrorism.
An Opening Ceremony Marked by High-Level Attendance
The opening session was attended by numerous civil and military officials.
The representative of the Mayor of Bouaké welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of collective engagement in preserving local peace and security.
Dr Tobias Ruettershoff, Director of the SIPODI Programme, emphasized that “the fight against terrorism cannot be purely military – it must involve all sectors of society, in a spirit of shared responsibility.”
Brigadier General Mouho Christophe, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, representing the Chief of Defence Staff, stressed the need to build trust between defence forces and communities, praising the partnership dynamic promoted by the SIPODI Programme.
The Secretary General of the Prefecture of Gbêkê, representing the Regional Prefect, reaffirmed the State’s commitment to advancing human security and supporting local stability initiatives.
Expert Contributions on Current Security Challenges
The two-day event featured several high-level thematic presentations:
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Dr Lassina Diarra (International Academy for the Fight Against Terrorism – AILCT) presented a mapping of transnational threats in West Africa.
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Dr Arsène Nene Bi, a specialist in public international law and human rights, discussed how to reconcile security effectiveness with human rights principles.
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Lieutenant Colonel Edi Fabrice, Deputy Commander of ENSOA, highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation and intelligence sharing.
Other national and international experts also contributed, exploring the social, institutional, and operational dimensions of counterterrorism efforts.
Workshops and Actionable Recommendations
Participants engaged in practical group exercises, analysing real cases and proposing ways to strengthen prevention and coordination. The main recommendations included:
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Raising community awareness against radicalization;
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Continuous human-rights and communication training for security forces;
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Strengthening local civil-military dialogue frameworks;
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Supporting community-based social cohesion and development projects.
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Building on a Regional Dynamic
The Bouaké seminar is part of the broader SIPODI regional strategy, which supports West African states and local actors in defence and security policy development, violent extremism prevention, and peace promotion.
“Our ambition is to foster a shared understanding between civil and military actors, so that together they can develop legitimate, effective, and humane responses to terrorism,” concluded Dr Tobias Ruettershoff, Director of the SIPODI Programme.
