Conference on security crises brings researchers and military personnel together in Bouaké
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on L'Intelligent d'Abidjan
Alassane Ouattara University in Bouaké hosted a conference on defence and security crises in West Africa from 28 to 30 October. Academics, military personnel and civil society representatives discussed threats and regional cooperation, according to L’Intelligent d’Abidjan.
The Alassane Ouattara University of Bouaké hosted an international conference on defence and security crises in West Africa from 28 to 30 October 2026. Organised by its history department, the event brought together researchers, military officials and civil society representatives, reports L’Intelligent d’Abidjan.
At the opening, the representative of Vice-Prime Minister and Defence Minister Jean Jacques Konadjé called for greater cooperation between African states in the face of conflict, terrorism, illicit trafficking and cyberattacks. He said security also depended on leaders’ ability to anticipate threats, and that academic research could help assess public policies.
The dean of the history faculty, Sangaré Souleymane, urged participants to learn from the ancient West African empires, which gave an important place to defending territories and protecting populations. He also called for material support for his department.
The conference is part of a series of discussions on regional issues, following the Abidjan forum on African borders on 20 October. On 29 October, the day before the conference opened, Ivory Coast also launched Operation Épervier 12 against criminal networks in Bouaké.
