The South African government’s defence and security acquisition and project management company, Armscor, recently hosted a delegation from Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen defence relations between the two nations.
Several South African defence companies presented their catalogue of military equipment to an Ivorian delegation visiting Johannesburg.
The visit, spanning five days, featured a tailored programme designed to align with Côte d’Ivoire’s specific defence needs. The delegation was welcomed at Armscor headquarters in Pretoria by the company’s board chair, Alex Mahapa, before embarking on a tour of Armscor’s facilities.
They also visited several South African defence industry (SADI) companies to explore the country’s capabilities. According to Armscor’s latest Inside Out newsletter, the programme focused on key areas of interest for Côte d’Ivoire, including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, vessel manufacturing, ammunition production, and weapon systems.
On the final day of their tour, the delegation visited the Gerotek test facilities, located west of Pretoria. There, they were joined by South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, who engaged with the West African visitors.
General Maphwanya expressed his satisfaction with the strengthened ties between Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa, stating that the collaboration provided “some surety” that Côte d’Ivoire was “on the right path in collaborating towards enhancing peace on the continent and thus, silencing the guns,” a reference to the African Union’s peace initiative.
Following the visit, a subsequent meeting in Côte d’Ivoire led to a significant development: the signing of a letter of cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Defence and Armscor. This agreement formalizes the intent of both parties to work together in exploring potential business opportunities, marking a milestone in their growing partnership.
As highlighted in the Armscor publication, “This milestone once again reassures Armscor’s commitment to assist with procurement needs and other requirements, using its decades of acquisition experience,” underscoring the company’s dedication to supporting Côte d’Ivoire’s defence objectives while fostering stability across the continent.