Spain enhances security in the Gulf of Guinea as part of a European Union initiative

• Spanish military personnel train Ghana’s special forces in air-ground integration special operations

As part of the European Union Security and Defence Initiative for the Gulf of Guinea (EU SDI GoG),

the Air and Space Force’s Parachute Engineer Platoon (EZAPAC) is delivering a training programme in Ghana on special operations involving air-ground integration (SOALI), with the aim of strengthening the African country’s Air Force.

Since early April, EZAPAC personnel — under the direction of the Operations Command — have been instructing 30 members of the Special Operations Squadron (SOS) of the Ghana Air Force in SOALI tactics, techniques and procedures. The main purpose of this training is to promote the growth and development of this unit and to equip them to plan and carry out the missions which, by their nature, are assigned to them by their army. According to one of the instructors who has travelled to the West African country: “the trainees’ progress has been excellent, with a notable commitment and constant improvement in the acquisition of basic skills for the unit’s long-term operational capability”.

This deployment reinforces Spain’s commitment to stability in West Africa. The Spanish presence in the region stems from the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) decision, which aims to assist in the development of the armed forces of Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin, helping them to contain and respond to the pressure exerted by armed terrorist groups in the countries of the region.

Spain in the EU SDI GoG

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Decision 2023/1599 established this European military cooperation initiative in Africa, which had the explicit support of Spain. Its main objective is to collaborate in the development of armed forces capable of containing and responding to the pressure exerted by armed terrorist groups in the West African countries where this cooperation is established: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin.

Since October 2024, following a planning process at European level, Spain has participated actively and directly in the EU SDI GoG. Spanish military personnel have so far delivered several courses in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The content of the courses ranges according to each African country’s armed forces’ specific needs.