Introduction
How is the Military in Benin and how does it work to maintain Sucity and fight terrorism? In terms of Military and security forces, we have the Beninese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB; aka Benin Defense Forces): Army, Air Force, National Navy, National Guard (aka Republican Guard)
Ministry of Interior and Public Security: Republican Police (Police Republicaine, DGPR) (2025).
Ministry of Interior and Public Security: Republican Police (Police Republicaine, DGPR) (2025).
In Benin, the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for defense against external aggression and may be required to assist in maintaining public order and internal security under conditions defined by the country's president; it may also participate in economic development projects
a key focus for the security forces of Benin is countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from northern Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in 2022, the Benin Government said it was "at war" after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; later that same year, President TALON pledged to increase the size of the military, modernize military equipment, and establish forward operating bases; the military since 2022 has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the north of the country to better secure the border region; in addition, the FAB participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeastern border (2025)
a key focus for the security forces of Benin is countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from northern Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in 2022, the Benin Government said it was "at war" after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; later that same year, President TALON pledged to increase the size of the military, modernize military equipment, and establish forward operating bases; the military since 2022 has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the north of the country to better secure the border region; in addition, the FAB participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeastern border (2025)
Security and military information of Benin
| Military and security service personnel strengths | estimated 10-12,000 active duty Armed Forces (including National Guard) (2025) |
|---|---|
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the military is equipped with a mix of older, secondhand, and limited amounts of newer equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Germany, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, Spain, and the US (2025) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-30 years of age for voluntary and selective compulsory military service for men and women; compulsory service is 18 months (2025). |
| Military deployments | . |
| Military expenditures | |
| Military Expenditures 2024 | 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2023 | 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2022 | 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2021 | 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2020 | 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.) |
Terrorism
In Benin, the different Terrorist group(s) inlcude: Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Boko Haram
All Important Facts about Benin
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