At the official launch of the assessment report on obstacles to the deployment of female military personnel, the UN Women Resident Representative in Côte d'Ivoire, Adjaratou Ndiaye, warmly welcomed the efforts of the Ivorian government to increase the female presence in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The ceremony, which took place at the Hôtel des Armées (Camp Gallieni), brought together several high-ranking civil and military authorities.

A strong political commitment to equality

Ms. Ndiaye expressed her gratitude to Ivorian leaders, particularly mentioning the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Téné Birahima Ouattara. This commitment aligns directly with President Alassane Ouattara's vision to modernize the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FACI) by strengthening the role of women within it.

“The United Nations system remains fully committed to supporting the Government of Côte d’Ivoire in this endeavor. Lasting peace cannot be fully built when half of a nation’s talent, skills and leadership remain insufficiently represented,” Adjaratou Ndiaye reminded everyone.

Representing the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Women, Family and Children, Nassénéba Touré, congratulated the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, General Lassina Doumbia, for his concrete initiatives. She emphasized that this approach demonstrates the country's commitment to promoting excellence and equal opportunities while remaining a major player in international security.

The presence of women: a lever for operational efficiency

For Kimou Assi, deputy director of the Economic Policy Analysis Unit at CAPEC-CIRES, the integration of women into the armed forces goes beyond simply complying with UN requirements: it is a strategic asset on the ground. In particular, it allows for:

1. Strengthening trust with local populations.
2. Optimize information gathering.
3. Modernizing the image and actions of the armed forces.

"It is no longer a question of protecting the women of the mission, but of preparing the mission for them," Mr. Assi insisted.

Key figures from the report (2017-2024)

Commissioned by UN Women and carried out by CAPEC-CIRES — with financial support from the ELSIE Initiative Fund and technical support from the Geneva Centre —, the study highlights the road still to be traveled:

Indicator	Statistical data
Total number of Ivorian military personnel deployed (UN)	2,395
Number of female military personnel deployed	96
Percentage of female representation	Approximately 4%

Although this rate of 4% is considered insufficient by international standards, the publication of this report marks a crucial step in identifying institutional barriers and designing new inclusion strategies within the Ivorian defense forces.