Côte d’Ivoire: 44,000 soldiers mobilized to secure the presidential election
Ahead of Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025, the Armed Forces General Staff has launched “Operation Hope,” a large-scale security initiative mobilizing 44,000 Defense and Security Forces personnel. The operation will run from October 5 to November 4, with a possible extension in the event of a runoff.
During a press conference held on September 25 at the Yamoussoukro military base, Colonel-Major Eric Hobbah Koffi outlined the main aspects of the initiative. It brings together 18,000 gendarmes, 18,000 police officers, and 8,000 soldiers, supported by armored vehicles, troop transport trucks, and crowd-control equipment. The goal is clear: to prevent any attempt to disrupt the election and to ensure the safety of people and property.
The concept of “Operation Hope” symbolizes national unity and the desire for peace. It reflects the armed forces’ commitment to ensuring calm and transparent elections in a climate of trust. A simulation exercise was conducted in Yamoussoukro to test different scenarios of electoral incidents, similar to those carried out during the 2015 and 2020 elections, as well as during the Africa Cup of Nations.
“The goal is not to repress, but to protect,” emphasized the Colonel-Major, urging the population to adopt civic and responsible behavior. The Defense and Security Forces reaffirm their determination to guarantee peace, transparency, and freedom of voting across the entire national territory.
