Authorities in Côte d’Ivoire have confirmed the dismantling of a terrorist network in July 2024 in Abidjan, marking a significant security operation with international implications. According to French newspaper ‘Le Monde’, six individuals of Iraqi and Syrian origin, linked to the Islamic State (IS), were arrested in the Ivorian capital while allegedly planning to reach Europe.
On November 25, an Ivorian government source discreetly confirmed that the country’s anti-terrorism unit had arrested the six men in the Koumassi Commune of Abidjan on July 28. This operation, made possible through intelligence provided by U.S. security services, uncovered a network with potential plans to target high-profile events, including the upcoming Paris Olympics.
The suspects reportedly had connections extending as far as Madagascar, where other members of the same network were also apprehended with the support of French and American intelligence agencies.
During the raid, authorities seized false identity documents and approximately 30 SIM cards from the suspects’ apartment. The individuals were interrogated by Ivorian authorities in coordination with their American counterparts.
Simultaneously, another operation unfolded 6,250 kilometers away in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital. Malagasy authorities, supported by France’s General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), arrested two additional members of the same network.
‘Le Monde’ reports that American and French intelligence had been tracking these suspects for months due to their alleged ties to IS. While Abidjan and Antananarivo are already grappling with jihadist threats from the Sahel and Mozambique, this marks the first acknowledgment by Ivorian authorities of individuals linked directly to terrorist groups originating from the Middle East operating within their borders.
These arrests highlight the growing complexity of global terrorism networks, the transnational nature of their operations, and the critical need for international collaboration in counter-terrorism efforts. The involvement of intelligence agencies from Côte d’Ivoire, the U.S., and France underscores the importance of partnerships in addressing threats that cross continents.