Beninese troops deployed within the UN Mission in Mali (Minusma) should return to their country by November 2023, this was announced on Saturday, May 21, Porto-Novo, which highlights the need for these soldiers to participate in securing Benin, which has recently been confronted with terrorist attacks.
Benin has already notified the UN General Secretariat in New York. “Recently, Benin has been facing a worrying security situation due to acts of terrorism orchestrated on its northern borders by unidentified armed men. Faced with this situation, it is urgent that Benin deploy all the human, material and logistical skills required, ”says a note from the head of Beninese diplomacy, Aurélien Agbénonci, addressed to the United Nations.
According to the withdrawal schedule recommended by the authorities, “Benin will withdraw its 140 men who make up a police base in Kidal, in northern Mali, by next November. Then, the 250 soldiers who make up an infantry regiment based in Sénou, on the outskirts of the Malian capital Bamako, will be repatriated in November 2023”, i.e. nearly 400 peacekeepers in total.
For several months, Benin, in its northern part, has become the target of attacks by armed groups, in which many soldiers have lost their lives. But the government reassured Sunday that the Beninese Armed Forces have the security situation under control.
« I can reassure you that the balance of power is in favor of Benin, » said government spokesman Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, saluting, at the same time, the memory of the soldiers who fell in the assaults.
Benin has also been working recently to acquire appropriate military equipment, in accordance with the promise of President Patrice Talon who indicated, in his speech on the state of the nation in December 2021, that the means Sufficient will be given to the defense and security forces « to enable them to ensure the optimal protection of the entire country so that even in their own ranks, there are no more other victims ».
By OMA Newsletter N° 713 of 05/23/2022
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