Military cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and China is taking on a humanitarian dimension with the arrival of the Chinese naval hospital ship “Ark of Happiness” at the Port of Abidjan as part of Mission Harmony 2026.

A guided tour and reception aboard the vessel were held on Friday, October 16, bringing together senior Ivorian officials, including Eugène Aka Aouélé, president of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council (CESEC), government representatives and General Lassina Doumbia, chief of staff of the Ivorian Armed Forces.

The vessel is equipped with medical facilities designed to provide healthcare services to local populations. According to figures presented during the visit, it can accommodate up to 600 patients per day for consultations and perform approximately 30 surgical procedures daily during the mission.

Chinese Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire Wu Jie described the initiative as a demonstration of friendship and solidarity between the two countries. General Doumbia praised the ship’s medical equipment and capabilities, highlighting the humanitarian purpose of the mission.

He also stressed that serving the population remains central to the Ivorian Armed Forces’ strategy, describing the mission as consistent with their objective of placing communities at the heart of military operations.

The visit highlights the growing scope of military cooperation between Abidjan and Beijing beyond traditional security matters. It also provides an opportunity to share medical expertise and strengthen exchanges between the two countries’ armed forces.

Through Mission Harmony 2026, Côte d’Ivoire and China are promoting healthcare cooperation as another dimension of their bilateral partnership, with the stated aim of bringing medical expertise closer to Ivorian communities.