Côte d’Ivoire, Congo sign 15 accords, including on defense, health & transport

Côte d’Ivoire and Congo Brazzaville signed 15 agreements covering several areas including defense, health and transport, as both countries bolster ties.

Top diplomats of both countries namely Kandia Camara of Côte d’Ivoire and Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso initialed the agreements following two days of intense work of the first session of the Great Ivorian-Congolese Joint Commission which took place in Abidjan.

The agreements cover military and technical cooperation, judicial, education, higher education, fishing, construction, health, and transport areas.

For Sassou Nguesso, the agreements confirm the willingness of his country to “consolidate, diversify and instill a dynamic” to cooperation, which he wants to be fruitful; up to the multiform potential and investment opportunities of both countries.

Camara on his part wished the continuation of discussions to accelerate the finalization procedures of 32 draft agreements under negotiation and identify new areas to further expand the scope of cooperation, so the two countries will have a legal and institutional framework able to boost a new dynamic.

The Ivorian-Congolese joint commission was set up 47 years ago.