The government of Bénin and the Centre de Genève pour la gouvernance du secteur de la sécurité (DCAF) signed a five-year framework agreement on 15 October 2026. This partnership formalizes cooperation between the Beninese authorities and the Genève-based organization to support security sector reform initiatives within the country. The agreement establishes a structured timeline for the collaboration, which is scheduled to remain in effect through 2031. Both parties intend to address institutional requirements through this long-term arrangement.
Strategic Framework and Priority Axes
Eight priority axes grouped into four main orientations form the core of the agreement between the government of Bénin and the Centre de Genève pour la gouvernance du secteur de la sécurité (DCAF). These focus areas define the operational objectives for the five-year security sector reform program. Marius Loko, ambassadeur et secrétaire général par intérim du ministère des Affaires étrangères, stated during the signing ceremony that "La sécurité ne se décrète pas, elle se gouverne." This principle guides the implementation of the specified priority axes as the partners move to address identified institutional requirements. The partnership aims to align these technical objectives with the broader security governance goals established on 15 October 2026.
Modernizing Personnel and Intelligence Capabilities
The first orientation of the five-year agreement prioritizes the modernization of security personnel. This objective includes a specific focus on updating human resources management within the Police républicaine. Technical assistance provided under the partnership will also target the strengthening of intelligence capabilities to improve the operational effectiveness of state security services.
Community-based initiatives constitute the second orientation of the reform program. Authorities intend to deploy these efforts by developing local prevention and resilience mechanisms specifically within border communes. The program aims to empower these areas to better identify and mitigate security risks at the local level through direct involvement of the resident population.
Institutional control and oversight form the basis of the third orientation. This pillar addresses the regulation of private security companies operating within the country to ensure their activities align with national standards. The framework mandates improvements to the mechanisms of accountability that bind security institutions to both the government and the Parliament of Bénin.
Regional cooperation serves as the fourth orientation to combat cross-border security threats. The program emphasizes the necessity of joint action with neighboring states to manage instability that transcends national boundaries. By coordinating responses to shared risks, the government of Bénin and the Centre de Genève pour la gouvernance du secteur de la sécurité (DCAF) plan to address security challenges that require international collaboration.