Two Spanish non-commissioned officers are delivering a basic course in intelligence analysis to around twenty Ivorian military personnel

•  The training is being carried out as part of the European Union’s cooperation with the countries of the Gulf of Guinea

 As part of the European Union Security and Defence Initiative for the Gulf of Guinea (EU SDI GoG), two non-commissioned officers from the 12th Guadarrama Brigade are in Côte d’Ivoire delivering a basic intelligence training course to twenty Ivorian military personnel in the city of Abidjan.

The Spanish team of instructors — the Mobile Training Team (MTT) — comprises a corporal and a staff sergeant; both are providing training to twenty military personnel from the three branches of the armed forces at the Centre de Instruction Navale (CIN). Upon completion of this course on intelligence analysis, the Ivorian trainees will be able to successfully advise their respective commanders on decision-making.

For the instructors, “this experience in Côte d’Ivoire is proving to be highly positive, with the excellent feedback and treatment received from the Ivorian military standing out. They have a wealth of experience and are demonstrating an outstanding standard throughout the course. The warmth and kindness of both civilian and military personnel reflect the human and cultural richness of a country which, despite its challenges, is distinguished by its hospitality and cheerfulness”.

This training exercise demonstrates a sign of commitment of the Spanish Army and Spain — under the operational control of the Operations Command — to international cooperation missions and to strengthening defence capabilities in West Africa, which contributes directly to regional security and stability in the Gulf of Guinea.

Spain in the EU SDI GoG

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Decision 2023/1599 established this European military cooperation initiative in Africa, which received Spain’s explicit support. Its main objective is to assist in the development of armed forces capable of containing and responding to the pressure exercise by armed terrorist groups in the West African countries where this cooperation is taking place: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin.

Since October 2024, following a Europe-wide planning process, Spain has participated actively and in person in the EU SDI GoG. To date, Spanish military personnel have delivered ten courses in Benin, three in Côte d’Ivoire – including this one – and another in Ghana. The course content has been very wide-ranging, covering everything from logistics and countering improvised explosive devices to signals intelligence and electronic warfare, always tailored to the interests of the armed forces of the African countries involved.