Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo agreed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in Abidjan to prepare the signing of a framework agreement for strategic cooperation in defense and security, following a meeting between their ministers Téné Birahima Ouattara and Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita.
The agreement has not yet been signed. The Ivorian Deputy Prime Minister indicated that the two delegations had agreed to work towards its imminent conclusion, without specifying a timeline or detailing the operational areas that would be covered.
Téné Birahima Ouattara explained that the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in defense and security as well as on issues of regional stability. The meeting is part of a friendship and working visit by the Congolese minister, who arrived in Abidjan on Monday, October 26.
The Congolese Ministry of Defense had presented this mission as an initiative aimed at diversifying and energizing strategic partnerships for the benefit of the Armed Forces of the DRC. Upon its arrival, no specific list of projects, training, or equipment had been made public.
This announcement comes thirteen days after Téné Birahima Ouattara’s trip to Kinshasa. On October 15, he delivered a message from Alassane Ouattara to Félix Tshisekedi during an audience in which the Congolese presidency reported discussions on strengthening bilateral relations.
Guy Kabombo’s trip to Abidjan extends a series of high-level contacts between the two capitals. However, the official communications reviewed do not specify either the scheduled date for the signing or the implementation mechanism of the future agreement.
The Congolese delegation is scheduled to visit the International Academy for Counter-Terrorism in Jacqueville on Thursday, October 29, before the end of their stay in Côte d’Ivoire.
