APA-Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) Construction work on the prestigious institution for counterterrorism enters its second phase launched at the end of the first Board of Directors of the International Academy for Combating Terrorism (AILCT) in Jacqueville, a seaside town in southern Cote d’Ivoire.
The laying of the foundation stone of the second phase of the AILCT, based in Jacqueville, was carried out by the Minister of State, Minister of Defense, Mr. Tene Birahima and the Secretary of State of France, responsible for Development and International Partnerships, Ms. Chrysoula Zachaporoulou.
The ceremony was also attended by other members of the Board of Directors, including the representative of the European Union (EU), Francesca Di Mauro and the Vice-President of ECOWAS, Ms. Damtien Tchintchibidja.
According to Mr. Tene Birahima, the Minister of State, Minister of Defense of Cote d’Ivoire, by making this gesture the Ivorian State marks the desire to actively participate in the fight against terrorism by integrating sub-regional and international cooperation.
He hailed this ambitious project which aims to train African elites in the fight against terrorism, through this International Academy against terrorism, whose first phase of work was completed a year ago.
As for the financing of the second phase, Tene Birahima said that a fundraising was organized in Paris in July 2022, with a participation of the European Union estimated at ten million euros, or more than 6.5 billion CFA francs.
Ms. Chrysoula Zachaporoulou, while noting her dismay at the disaster of terrorism in Africa and Europe, expressed the hope to be trained in the AILCT, “those who will enable African countries to defend themselves even better” against terrorist attacks.
The Secretary of State of France, responsible for Development and International Partnerships, said that this requires the commitment of all, citing the Ivory Coast, France and the international community.
“We have with this academy one of the most modern, effective and sustainable weapons possible in the fight against terrorism,” he said, adding that it is a success that has been noticed around the world.
Chrysoula Zacharopoulou called for the challenge of financing the AILCT, mentioning that “we have all already contributed, which has allowed us to build the high quality infrastructure that we see.”
However, “we still need to develop training, equipment and research (which is why) we must all act together to go and mobilise new partners in this magnificent collective adventure,” she went on to say.
“There is no security disengagement on the part of France (…). This commitment is strengthened, renewed, and is part of the long term, in particular through a training offer that we want to accentuate as evidenced by this academy,” Chrysoula Zacharopoulou said.
The International Academy for Combating Terrorism is a project initiated by the French and Ivorian presidents, Emmanuel Macron and Alassane Ouattara, in 2017.
It now has eight member countries on its Board of Directors.
The United States, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain are members of the Council, as well as organizations such as the African Union, the European Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Today, more than 1,000 trainees have been trained, 80 training sessions have been given to students from 26 countries around the world, including prefects, magistrates, police officers, gendarmes and soldiers.
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