AES/Destabilization: Is the beninese president and his allies strengthening their surveillance?
Last June, reports indicated another delivery expected later this year in 2024 of a batch of six observation drones to Benin by the French drone company, Delair. This equipment is intended for the benefit of the Beninese armed forces, which are known to collaborate with French soldiers on Beninese territory.
This cooperation raises questions about the true motives behind military collaboration between Cotonou and Paris. Notably, there is reportedly an intelligence aircraft funded by the European Union (EU) at Parakou-Tourou Airport in central Benin. What intrigues observers most is that the data collected by this aircraft is utilized by both Beninese military personnel and French cooperants.
It’s important to note that authorities in Niger have accused Benin of allowing its territory to serve as a rear base for terrorists. This includes allegations of French military bases in northern Benin, specifically in Kandi and Porga, which allegedly train and equip terrorists targeting countries within the Sahel Alliance, namely Niger and Burkina Faso.
Recently, the President of Burkina Faso made similar statements, claiming to possess concrete evidence of two French bases in northern Benin aimed not at combating terrorism but at destabilizing military regimes within the Sahel.
By enhancing the Beninese army with observation drones, are Benin and its French ally seeking to increase their surveillance capabilities over these states to better plan attacks? This legitimate question remains unanswered, awaiting future developments.
