The economic capital of Ivory Coast welcomed, on June 17 and 18, 2025, the President of the Republic of Guinea, General Mamadi Doumbouya, as part of a visit of friendship and work. This official visit is part of a strong willingness of both countries to strengthen their bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on economic and commercial exchanges.
Discussions between the Guinean head of state and his Ivorian counterpart, Alassane Ouattara, focused on the consolidation of economic ties, the revival of common projects in strategic sectors, and the intensification of commercial exchanges. The host notably rejoiced in the 78% increase in overall commercial exchanges between the two countries over the past year, a figure that reflects the growing dynamism of sub-regional economic cooperation.
But for the Ivorian leader, this performance should mark the beginning of a new phase. He advocated for an even more ambitious cooperation in key areas such as mining, energy, and transportation, sectors in which both countries have a strong potential for complementarity.
The Simandou 2040 project: an integration driver
This visit also highlighted Guinea’s progress, particularly through the “Simandou 2040” program, a strategic integrated development project around the world’s largest untapped iron ore deposit. The Ivorian President congratulated his counterpart on the progress made, praising an initiative that could become a lever for regional economic integration, notably through the creation of cross-border infrastructure and jobs.
In addition to bilateral cooperation, discussions focused on the geopolitical situation in the Sahel. The two leaders expressed a common willingness to provide coordinated assistance to countries in crisis, facing security, political, and humanitarian challenges. In this regard, they reiterated their commitment to strengthening regional integration, seen as a structural response to tensions that weaken the sub-region.
In a regional context marked by multiple challenges, this visit marks a significant step towards more integrated cooperation focused on shared development, faithful to the spirit of a united, resilient, and prosperous West Africa.
