The Republic of Niger and Benin signed a defense cooperation agreement and security on Monday, July 11, 2022, in Niamey.
The Beninese Minister of National Defence, Mr. Fortunet Alain Nouatin states that signing the agreement means ''the entry into the era of much closer cooperation in the defense and security between the Republic of Niger and Benin''.
He underlined that ''this cooperation existed, but was not formal because Niger had never haggled when it was asked to provide support at all levels of defense and security''.
But it is necessary, added Mr. Alain, that "the defense and security institutions of the two countries should be linked by a much more formal agreement, which will allow the exchange of information more quickly and clearly.''
"It is possible, and even already considered, that Benin and Niger unite to prevent this terrorism from existing in our territories," he continued. The Beninese Minister of National Defense also specified that with ''from the just-formalized cooperation, Benin will draw a lot of experience from Niger''.
''Niger has been facing this terrorism for ten years. Since then, it gradually got up and dominated the situation,'' admitted Mr. Alain, who specified that they know that ''all the Sahelian countries have been impacted. And the best response, the best resilience, is found in Niger''.
''It's been ten years of the fight against terrorism in Niger. It has done a lot of harm to our country. We have lost many men,'' recalled Alkassoum Indattou, Minister of Defense of Niger. "At one point, we were on our knees, but by the grace of God, we got up and our defense and security forces enabled Niger to play the role we are trying to play to play today."
"If today our brothers in Benin show their need to cooperate with us, it is because they need our help, our experience, it is indeed a duty for us to do so," reassured the Nigerien Minister. ''The agreement we have just signed provides for the help, and even beyond that. We are proud of this agreement and we will work closely together to block the way for the terrorists,'' concluded the Minister.
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