In collaboration with the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of the Interior and Security of Côte d'Ivoire, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized a training session for 15 Ivorian police officers stationed at the borders. The training took place from September 23 to October 4, 2024, at the Nettuno Police School in Italy. The officers, from various police units, including the Unit for Combating Human Trafficking and Illicit Migrant Trafficking (ULTIM), the Special Port and Airport Police Stations in Abidjan, as well as Border Police Stations, were selected to enhance their skills in border management.

This capacity-building initiative aims to strengthen the ability of Côte d'Ivoire’s law enforcement to address irregular migration, transnational organized crime, and border security, ensuring a humane and orderly management of migration. This is especially important given the growing security challenges and terrorism threats in the region.

The participants were trained on critical subjects, including the security of entry points, the fight against document fraud, human trafficking, illicit migrant trafficking, and the protection of human rights in migration management. They also had the opportunity to visit Fiumicino and various police posts at the air and science borders, where they learned about the operational realities of European borders and exchanged best practices in migration management.

The closing ceremony of the training was chaired by the representative of the Italian Ministry of the Interior, Iandoli Luigi, and attended by representatives from the Ivorian Embassy in Italy, the Ivorian Ministry of the Interior and Security, and the head of the IOM Côte d'Ivoire mission.

"This activity is part of a broader partnership between Côte d'Ivoire and Italy, manifested through a security agreement, bilateral relations, and a technical protocol in security matters between the two countries," emphasized General Touré Seydou, the representative of Minister Vagondo Diomandé, during his speech.

Supported by IOM, this collaboration helps Côte d'Ivoire develop more effective tools to secure its borders while building the necessary skills to address contemporary transnational challenges. The initiative is funded by the Italian Ministry of the Interior through the project "Strengthening the Operational Capacities of the Ivorian Government in Migration and Border Management (CIVIT)", implemented by IOM in Côte d'Ivoire.