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A group of the participants (Photo: Yacouba Soro/US Embassy)

US Embassy Hosts DVC on: “The Role of the Military in a Democratic Society”

Retired U.S. Colonel Peter Herrly spoke with two dozen officers from the Ivorian Armed Forces and National Gendarmerie, on March 16, during a digital video conference organized by the United States Embassy in Abidjan.  Participants discussed and debated the role of the military in a democratic society.

They looked the military’s duties and responsibilities to the country and its citizens, the call to service that motivates them, and the charge that obliges them to serve the nation as best as possible.  They also looked at -- from many points of view  -- topics like an officer’s accountability and responsibility for civil or human rights violations done by soldiers under his command, dealing with the press, handling conflicting or controversial instructions from their superiors etc.   The discussion was lively, real life, and a frank exchange of opinions and experiences between American and Ivorian military officers. A follow-on book discussion the Nouveaux Horizons title, “Le rôle de l’armée en démocratie,” is being planned for May.