A French-speaking Special Forces NCO watches weapons marksmanship training for a member of a Malian counter-terrorism unit during one of over 30 pre-scheduled military training engagements planned, coordinated and managed by SOCAFRICA’s JSOTF-TS. Keen in the myriad of different weapons used around the world, Special Forces teams provide capacity development training and advisement to pre-designated host nation units whose mission is to provide for the security of the vast and barren northern territories. Planned, coordinated and managed under the auspices of the State Department’s Trans-Saharan Counter Terrorism Partnership, Department of Defense TSCTP activities in the region are planned, coordinated and conducted under the auspices of Operation Enduring Freedom (Trans-Sahara) and are managed by SOCAFRICA’s Joint Special Operations Task Force (Trans-Sahara). (Photos are provided by JSOTF-TS Public Affairs)
The Beninese National Guard has launched a wide-ranging military exercise, Operation “Shield,” aimed at boosting the country’s preparedness against the spread of terrorism from the northern regions.
The large-scale operation, initiated on Monday, June 30, 2025, is being carried out across the departments of Zou, Mono, and Couffo in southern Benin.
According to an official government communiqué received by APA, the maneuver involves more than 560 personnel from various branches of the national defense forces.
It is led by Colonel Faïzou Gomina, Chief of Staff of the National Guard, under the strategic directive of Major General Fructueux Gbaguidi, Chief of the General Staff of the Beninese Armed Forces.
Lieutenant-Colonel Adamassou Valère, Director of the exercises, emphasized the operation’s significance amid “the persistent threats of terrorist attacks in the north of the country with the risks of its progression towards the south.”
The exercise is designed to test the National Guard’s capacity to deploy operational force groups while simultaneously fulfilling their routine duties.
Simulations include rapid response to terror attacks, neutralization of armed assailants, and the securing of critical public spaces.
Specialized training is taking place at multiple strategic sites: the Ladji River Brigade in Cotonou for aquatic rescue operations, the Beninese Armed Forces’ climbing site in Dassa, and a tactical obstacle course at the Ouassa military camp.
Operation Shield also includes significant support from other branches of the security apparatus. The Air Force is providing aerial reconnaissance and mobility support, while the Republican Police are contributing intelligence capabilities.
Assessment teams from the Army and the Navy are embedded within the operation to evaluate troop performance.
Colonel Gomina noted that the operation will “season the personnel before their deployment in operational zones,” underscoring its role as both a training and readiness exercise.
The operation will conclude on July 3 and 4 with a comprehensive medical-social outreach program. Activities will include the distribution of pharmaceutical products and medical consultations, culminating in a high-level VIP day.
This initiative is part of a broader national security strategy to reinforce Benin’s southern defenses against terrorism, ensuring that the National Guard is equipped both technically and operationally to meet growing regional threats.
About The Author
