Abidjan – The Ministry of the Interior and Security of Côte d’Ivoire in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched on 22 March 2023, the project: “Strengthening the operational capacities of the Ivorian Government in the field of migration and border management (in French, Renforcement des capacités opérationnelles du gouvernement ivoirien en matière de gestion des migrations et des frontières CIVIT)” funded by the Italian Government.

This project implemented by IOM in partnership with the Ivorian Directorate of Territorial Surveillance was presented during this event in the presence of Mr Mateo Piantodesi, Minister of the Interior of Italy together with a delegation of experts in migration and security.

The CIVIT project is based on a threefold approach that will enable the Ivorian authorities to be better equipped to ensure a more effective control of cross-border movements and face the current transnational threats for a better migration management in Côte d’Ivoire.

More specifically, “this project has three main pillars: the improvement of land border infrastructure, strengthening of the technical and operational capacities of the Ivorian authorities and promotion of international, regional and bilateral cooperation in cross-border mobility management,” says Letizia Tirone, IOM’s Chief of Mission a.i. in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Government is deeply committed to providing adequate responses to the many challenges related to migration governance, including border management.

“The CIVIT is of great importance to our country. The communities and administrative authorities are facing security challenges and strengthening of our operational capacities is a necessity. The project is therefore perfectly in line with our desire to secure and manage cross-border movements more effectively,” said Mr Vagondo Diomandé, Minister of the Interior and Security of Côte d’Ivoire.

The project launch ceremony was also an opportunity to discuss results of the mission conducted earlier in the regions of Tonkpi, Cavally, Poro and Tchologo to identify the sites that will host the four Border Police stations to be built. This field mission was conducted according to a multidimensional approach involving all stakeholders at different levels.

The Italian Minister of the Interior, Mr Mateo Piantodesi, expressed his satisfaction with progress made and highlighted the common ambition of all stakeholders to improve border management. “A common vision binds us: the will to manage borders in a humane and orderly manner. To achieve our ambition, it is essential to fight against criminal activities at borders, uphold the fundamental rights of migrants and protect vulnerable people and victims of trafficking in persons.”

At the end of this meeting, the Ministers of the Interior representing respectively Côte d’Ivoire and Italy, signed a cooperation agreement in the field of migration and security which now ties the two countries.

For more information, please contact, Nadège NTIBAREKERWA, Border Management Programme Officer, nntibareker@iom.int and SOUKOUNA Abdoulaye, Regional Communication Officer, asoukouna@iom.int.