European Union Security and Defence Initiative in the Gulf of Guinea

The European Union Security and Defence Initiative (EU SDI) in the Gulf of Guinea was established in December 2023 in partnership with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Its mission is to empower these countries to strengthen their security and defense capabilities in response to security threats in their northern regions1. Here are the key details:
◦ Mandate:
◦ The EU SDI aims to enhance the stability and resilience of the northern border areas in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin.
◦ It delivers customized support based on the identified needs of these partner countries.
◦ The initiative has both a civilian pillar and a military pillar.
◦ Activities:
◦ Capacity-building for national security and defense forces.
◦ Pre-deployment operational training for security and defense forces.
◦ Enhancement of security and defense forces in technical areas.
◦ Promotion of the rule of law and good governance in the security sector.
◦ Support for trust-building between civil society and security forces.