The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Téné Birahima Ouattara, began a two-day tour in the northern part of the country on Thursday, May 21, 2026, aimed at strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s defence capabilities through a series of inaugurations of highly strategic infrastructures for the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FACI).

At the 4th Infantry Battalion in Korhogo, the new Military Medical Center and Maintenance Workshop were inaugurated. This momentum continued in Ferkessédougou with the commissioning of a military hospital, a maintenance workshop, and the mobile gendarmerie squadron.

This series of infrastructures reflects the consistency of a strategic vision that places the improvement of living conditions, support, and working environments of Defence and Security personnel at the heart of government action.

Engaged with professionalism and dedication in preserving the national territory, particularly in the Northern Operational Zone, Côte d’Ivoire’s Defence and Security Forces are today recognized as a credible and respected actor in regional and international security cooperation.

The European Union, through the “DEFEND-CI” and “PARSEC” projects, provided decisive support for the construction of these infrastructures. In addition, the Military Welfare Fund (FPM) also contributed to this effort through new extensions and the provision of modern, state-of-the-art equipment to various services.

These modern infrastructures will enhance operational autonomy and ensure better medical care for soldiers deployed along the northern borders, as well as for the local populations living there.