<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Spanish Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, Guillermo Marín Gorbea, and the Director General of the International Academy for Combating Terrorism (AILCT), General Kouamé Joseph Allah, have signed an agreement to renew the Spanish government's contribution to this organization.</strong></h4> The agreement was signed this past Monday, November 17, in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire and headquarters of the Academy. According to a press release from the Embassy, Spain has supported the AILCT since its creation through an annual financial contribution and by sending experts from the State Security Forces and Corps, who provide specialized training to commanders and units dedicated to combating terrorism in the region. The AILCT is a bilateral project launched in 2017 by Côte d'Ivoire and France to serve as a benchmark for the fight against terrorism on the African continent. The first training courses were offered in 2019, and the facilities in Jacqueville (35 kilometers from Abidjan) were inaugurated on June 10, 2021, by Ivorian Prime Minister Jérôme Patrick Achi, in the presence of French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and numerous representatives of the international community from five continents. This commitment by Spain is part of the Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028, which foresees greater support for regional security training initiatives in West Africa, including the aforementioned International Counterterrorism Academy. “For Spain, this is further proof of its role as a reliable, consistent, and committed partner for peace and security with its African partners, and particularly with those in West Africa,” the Embassy stated. “Spain and Côte d'Ivoire face common challenges together, in a spirit of cooperation, solidarity, and shared responsibility,” it added.
