France delivers advanced counter-IED gear to Bénin forces
In response to the growing complexity of terrorist tactics in the country’s northern region, the military partnership between Cotonou and Paris has entered a new strategic phase. On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, the Béninese armed forces formally received a substantial shipment of cutting-edge equipment designed to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This delivery marks an adaptation of the intervention doctrine of Operation Mirador, aimed at securing the northern territories and revitalising the local economy.
A technological leap against an asymmetric threat
The nature of the threat in northern Bénin has evolved. Terrorist armed groups, under constant pressure from security forces, are increasingly abandoning direct assaults in favour of a stealthy and deadly weapon: improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Hidden along roads, these homemade traps are designed to hinder troop mobility and spread fear.
To address this specific challenge, France on 23 June handed over a large batch of specialised equipment to the Colonel Jean Kouagou N’PINA Centre for Post-Conflict Demining and Clearance Training (CPADD). The package includes high-performance metal and anomaly detectors, disruptor cannons (used to remotely destroy bomb circuits without triggering an explosion), and specialised intervention vehicles. The standout element is the delivery of portable jammers. These devices, carried on foot or mounted on vehicles, can instantly cut radio frequencies and cellular signals within a set radius, preventing terrorists from remotely detonating bombs as convoys pass.
Civilian and economic impact: securing roads to revive the north
While this delivery is strictly military, its deepest impact will be felt in the daily lives of communities in northern Bénin. In border areas, fear of homemade mines has gradually paralysed the local economy.
“The proliferation of improvised explosive devices demands constant adaptation of our means,” recalled Lieutenant-Colonel Djimon SAHGUI, Director of CPADD.
When roads become unsafe, weekly markets shut down, cotton trucks stop running, and access to health centres or schools becomes impossible. By strengthening the capabilities of the 1st Engineer Battalion, this donation accelerates the opening and securing of road axes. For residents of Matéri, Karimama, or Tanguiéta, seeing demining teams equipped with these new tools sends a powerful message of reassurance: the state is fully reclaiming public space to ensure the continuity of pastoral and commercial activities.
EOD training: towards greater operational autonomy
Acquiring advanced equipment is only meaningful if paired with flawless technical mastery. Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud ARDILLIER, Defence Attaché at the French Embassy in Bénin, stressed that this donation is above all “a concrete investment in the safety of Béninese soldiers.”
These new tools will be immediately integrated into the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training programmes conducted at CPADD. This regional centre of excellence will allow Béninese technicians to train on the latest technologies. The short-term goal is to deploy highly qualified demining teams capable of operating on the front lines alongside combat units, drastically reducing casualty rates during patrols.
Political framework: a reaffirmed bilateral partnership
The ceremony, presided over on behalf of the High Command by Colonel Gilbert LOSSITODE, representing the Chief of General Staff of the Béninese Armed Forces, highlighted the strength of the defence ties between Cotonou and Paris. As West Africa’s security architecture undergoes a major reconfiguration, Bénin and France are showing a convergence of views and a cooperation that Lieutenant-Colonel SAHGUI described as “solid and exemplary.”
Upon receiving the equipment, Colonel LOSSITODE praised “an act of solidarity and concrete commitment.” This cooperation project, the result of extensive coordination between military staffs, directly supports Operation Mirador, the Béninese military deployment in the north to counter jihadist infiltration.
Another step towards resilience
This new phase in the Franco-Béninese partnership demonstrates that the response to the terrorist threat can no longer be purely quantitative—it must be technological. By equipping the 1st Engineer Battalion and CPADD with top-tier technical means, the Béninese armed forces significantly boost their operational effectiveness.
Beyond the tactical advantage on the ground, the overall resilience of communities in northern Bénin is strengthened. Neutralising the IED threat is a prerequisite for restoring stability, reviving economic development, and allowing civilians to look to the future with confidence.
