As part of preparations for the October 2025 general elections in Côte d'Ivoire, the city of Aboisso hosted the third and final stage of the Training Workshops on Security in the Electoral Context. Organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Security Policy Dialogue in West Africa (SIPODI) program, this strategic event brought together senior security officials from the National Police, the National Gendarmerie, and the administration of the South Comoé region.
o A strong commitment to peaceful elections
Over two days, on April 10 and 11, participants—administrative authorities, defense and security forces (FDS), representatives of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), and experts—discussed security issues related to the electoral process. The initiative aims to anticipate risks, strengthen capacities and lay the foundations for effective cooperation between the various actors involved in securing the elections.
The opening ceremony was marked by strong statements calling for professional commitment and respect for human rights. Mr. Adelis Yapi, SIPODI Program Officer at the Foundation, emphasized the importance of frank security dialogue in a sometimes sensitive electoral context.
Enriching presentations and practical exercises
Several high-level presentations punctuated the two days, including:
• Prof. Arthur Banga on the security challenges of the 2025 electoral context;
• Mr. Ouattara Brahima of the CEI on collaboration between the CEI and the FDS;
• Mr. Wodjo Traoré and Dr. Kama Bérenger, representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, on human rights and community policing.
The presentations were followed by practical exercises on law enforcement, democratic crowd management, ethics, and the neutrality of the security forces. Specific modules were also led by police and gendarmerie officials.
o Concrete recommendations to strengthen electoral security
At the end of the seminar, several priority recommendations were formulated, including:
• Strengthening human rights training for the FDS;
• Formalizing coordination mechanisms between the CEI and the FDS;
• Improving logistics for the transport of ballot boxes;
• Adopting community policing as a tool for preventing electoral violence;
• Establishing local consultation units between the FDS, authorities, and communities.
A momentum to be maintained
This stage in Aboisso is part of a broader national awareness-raising project led by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. By promoting inter-institutional collaboration and citizen engagement, the SIPODI West program is working towards a peaceful, democratic, and resilient Côte d'Ivoire.
The SIPODI West program continues its work with institutional actors such as the Armed Forces Academy of Côte d'Ivoire (AFA) by supporting the training of military elites. Several other actions are planned in the coming months in Côte d'Ivoire and throughout West Africa.
