The third quadripartite meeting between the Governments of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, and the forces of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), started on Thursday, 17 March 2016 in Grand-Bassam, situated at some 40 km from Abidjan.

The aim of the periodic meeting was to discuss the reinforcement of cooperation between the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia regarding transborder security. The two countries which are both coming out a crisis must now tackle several security challenges including the illicit circulation of arms across their common border, as well as attacks by armed groups targeting Ivorian territory.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief of Staff of the Forces Républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI), General Soumaïla Bakayoko, said a synergy of actions was necessary in order to fight against banditry in an effort to protect the border. He also said that at the end of the two-day meeting, common directives should be proposed in the final report of the discussions.

For the Minister in charge of Defence in the President’s Office, Alain Richard Donwahi, the quadripartite meeting, which was being held just four days after the attacks in Grand-Bassam, should serve as a reminder of the need for a collective fight to preserve security. He also expressed the hope that the conclusions reached at the end of the meeting will help to provide better security along the border and for the people.

The Commanders of UNOCI and UNMIL Forces, Generals Didier L’Hôte and Salihu Zaway Uba, took part in the meeting which is scheduled to end on Friday, 18 March 2016.