The strengthening of the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FACI) continues. This Thursday, December 18, 2025, the National Navy officially received a new naval unit at the Plateau annex naval base, thus reinforcing its coastal surveillance capacity.

The ceremony took place under the auspices of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Lassina Doumbia . This new building, the result of military cooperation with the People's Republic of China , adds to a growing list of strategic acquisitions for securing Ivorian waters.

Technical specifications: An asset for local surveillance

This patrol boat, although compact, is equipped with modern equipment adapted for maritime policing missions:

1. Dimensions: 27 meters long by 4 meters wide.
2. Performance: A top speed of 20 knots thanks to a 1,200 horsepower engine.
3. Capacity: 60 tonnes, with a crew of 10 sailors and an endurance of 48 hours at sea.
4. Armament: Three 12.7 mm machine guns (one on the front deck and two at the rear).
5. Navigation & Comm: Complete equipment including Radar, GPS, Sounder, Navtex, Magnetic/Gyroscopic Compass, as well as HF and VHF radio systems.

A fleet that has been constantly expanding for 10 years

This acquisition is not an isolated incident. It is part of a comprehensive plan to modernize the Ivorian fleet, which began a decade ago:

Year	Ship(s) / Type	Notable details
2025	New Patrol Boat (27m)	Donation from China, received on December 18th.
2023	OPV 45 (Expectation)	45-meter offshore patrol vessel.
2022	P400 (Rear Admiral Lamine Fadika)	A high-seas vessel, the pride of the fleet.
2019	The Atchan 2 (Type C)	27 meters, also donated by China.
2015	CF Sékongo (RPB 33)	Third unit of the RPB 33 type.
2014	The Emergence & The Shield	First RPB 33 type patrol boats (33m).

A major strategic issue

From the OPV 45 offshore patrol vessel to more agile units like the RPB 33 , Côte d'Ivoire now possesses a diversified fleet. These assets enable it to effectively combat maritime piracy, illegal fishing, and cross-border trafficking, thus guaranteeing the country's economic and security sovereignty in the Gulf of Guinea.