Romuald Wadagni, the ruling party candidate in Benin’s upcoming presidential election, has pledged to establish municipal police forces in northern border towns to counter growing terrorist threats
Wadagni, who has served as finance minister under President Patrice Talon since 2016, said the initiative would empower local communities to defend themselves against increasing attacks linked to extremist groups operating across the Sahel
Unveiling his platform ahead of the April 12 election, he stressed that young people in affected areas would be trained and equipped to protect their communities, though he did not provide details on funding or the number of officers to be recruited
Benin’s northern regions, bordering Niger and Nigeria, have seen a rise in deadly attacks in recent years as violence spills over from the Sahel
Despite the presence of the national Republican Police and military forces, security remains fragile. In April 2025, an Al Qaeda-linked group killed 54 soldiers, while another attack in March 2026 left 15 troops dead and several others injured
Wadagni also emphasised the need for regional cooperation, saying Benin has “no choice” but to work closely with neighbouring countries to address cross-border threats
Security concerns have become a central issue in the election and were cited by soldiers who attempted a failed coup against Talon in December
Source: TRT Afrika
