Ivory Coast launches military exercise with Gabon and France
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Africanews, L’Infodrome, RFI and Bénin Web TV
The Ivorian, Gabonese and French armed forces launched the Grand exercice 2026 on Tuesday 10 November 2026, a manoeuvre aimed at strengthening their interoperability and ability to respond to regional security threats. The Ivorian phase involves 2,131 military personnel and will be followed by a second stage in Gabon, according to Africanews.
The Ivorian phase of the multinational FANGHA 2026 exercise involves 1,181 Ivorian military personnel, 850 French personnel and 100 Gabonese personnel, for a total of 2,131 soldiers, according to military authorities cited by Bénin Web TV. Benin, Guinea, Liberia and Senegal are participating as observer countries, without being included in the forces deployed.
The deployment includes nine armoured vehicles, six aircraft, seven light boats and a French amphibious helicopter carrier. An amphibious operation was conducted on 9 and 10 November on the coast of Jacqueville, while air-land manoeuvres are continuing in Bouaké until 12 November.
General Lassina Doumbia, chief of staff of the Ivorian armed forces, emphasised operational coordination in the face of terrorist threats, cross-border criminal networks and information manipulation. The units must also test their command procedures and their ability to operate jointly on land, at sea and in the air.
Preparation for the exercise began on 31 March in Abidjan, before a final planning conference was held in Libreville from 22 to 24 September. After the Ivorian phase, scheduled to run until 14 November, the manoeuvres will continue in Gabon from 24 to 29 November under the name WAIYA.
