Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire to simplify procedure to strengthen military cooperation in fight against terrorism

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Ivorian and Burkinabè armies will simplify their procedures in a bid to strengthen the fight against terrorism in the two countries, the Ivorian army chief, General Lassina Doumbia, said here Thursday.

"The fight against terrorism cannot be carried out alone. There must be collective response, especially as Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso share a border of about 500 km. Therefore, it is important for us to establish simplified cooperation and collaboration procedures between our forces," General Doumbia said at the end of a meeting with his Burkinabè counterpart, General Moise Miningou.

He said the Burkinabè and Ivorian people had multi-secular relations.

"There is true melting pot between the two populations. What is happening in Burkina Faso has impact on life in Côte d’Ivoire. It is therefore important for us to give each other support," he said.

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been targeted by terrorist attacks, leaving so far more than 700 dead and more than half a million displaced. The threat that concentrated at the Malian and Nigerien borders is now getting closer and closer to the Ivorian borders.

In March 2016, Côte d’Ivoire was also hit by a terrorist attack that took the lives of 19 people.

-0-       PANA    TNDD/BEH/MSA/RA    9Jan2020