Assistance measures in support of the Beninese Armed Forces in 2024

Objectives & Challenges

The objectives of the assistance measure are as follows:

• to enhance the capabilities of the Beninese Armed Forces to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Benin and its civilian population against internal and external aggressions;
• to contribute to peace and stability in the region.

To achieve these objectives, the assistance measure finances the following types of equipment:

• ammunition for the units of the Beninese Armed Forces located in the north of Benin for the specific purpose of pre-deployment training;
• small arms for the units of the Beninese Armed Forces deployed in the north of Benin within Operation Mirador for operational purposes.

Presentation of the project

The northern regions of the coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea, namely Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo, have been experiencing deteriorating security conditions in connection with the crisis affecting the central Sahel.

In light of the deteriorating security environment in the wider region, strengthening the defence and security forces of Benin is important in order to enable and support stabilisation efforts in that country. In that context, and fully cognisant of the need for an integrated response to that security environment, ensuring long-term peace and security in Benin is a key priority for the Union.

On 5 January 2024, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy received a request from Benin for the Union to assist the Beninese Armed Forces with training ammunition and small arms for operational use to strengthen the pre-deployment training and operational capacities of the military units deployed in the North of Benin within Operation Mirador, in order to contain the expansion of the threat posed by non-state armed groups from Burkina Faso and Niger, and to counteract and reduce the opportunities for those groups to commit terrorist attacks.

Beneficiary – Partner country/ organisation:

Beneficiary: Beninese Armed Forces