The Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FACI) and the Pennsylvania National Guard have reached a historic milestone. On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the two institutions formalized a strategic partnership agreement during a solemn ceremony at the Armory, a historic building in Philadelphia (United States).

This signing formalizes a process initiated a year earlier by Côte d'Ivoire to join the State Partnership Program (SPP), a US initiative designed to forge lasting ties between the US National Guard and the armed forces of partner countries. Following its official launch in Abidjan in December 2025, this cooperation is now moving into high gear.

The agreement was initialed by General Lassina Doumbia (Chief of Staff of the Ivorian Armed Forces) and General Jo Pippy (Chief of Staff of the Pennsylvania National Guard). The event took place in the presence of senior representatives from the U.S. Departments of African Affairs and Defense, the Ambassador of Côte d'Ivoire to the United States, and the Ivorian Minister of Sports, Adjé Silas Metch.

The 4 main pillars of the agreement

The memorandum of understanding targets strategic priorities to address contemporary security challenges:

1. Training and interoperability: Strengthening the readiness and coordination of troops in the field.
2. Counter-terrorism: Intensify the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
3. Cybersecurity: Securing and protecting digital infrastructures and spaces.
4. Crisis management: Improve medical support in operations and optimize the response to natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

What this means on the ground: Thanks to this alliance, Ivorian soldiers will benefit from privileged access to military academies, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and specialized training centers of the Pennsylvania National Guard. A major opportunity for the Ivorian Armed Forces (FACI) to share experience and develop their skills.