Actions are underway to strengthen the capacities and efficiency of the North Operational Zone, created to fight terrorism along the border with Burkina Faso and Mali, informed, Thursday July 1, 2021, in Abidjan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armies, Doumbia Lassina during a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by the Head of State, Alassane Ouattara.
These actions relate, in particular, to the increase in personnel, the provision of equipment and materials adapted to the fight against terrorism and the establishment of a strengthened intelligence system.
The President of the Republic instructed the Minister of State, Minister of Defense, to finalize, as soon as possible, all these actions deemed relevant.
The National Security Council noted with satisfaction that since its last meeting on May 27, 2021, the security situation has generally been calm throughout the territory on the basis of the analysis made by the Minister of the Interior and Security.
However, this situation was marked by two major events, namely the attack on the locality of Tougbo, located in the department of Bouna and bordering Burkina Faso, by unidentified armed individuals, on June 07, 2021, which caused the death of an Ivorian soldier , and the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) on the Tehini – Togolokaye axis, as a reconnaissance patrol of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FACI) passed, the June 12, 2021, which left three dead including a gendarme and two soldiers as well as six injured.
The President of the Republic strongly condemned these various attacks and encouraged the Defense and Security Forces to redouble their vigilance and to pursue, in a resolute manner, their efforts in the fight against terrorism. The Head of State also offered his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to all the injured.
Source: Agence Ivoirienne de presse