The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, Lassina Doumbia, is expected in Cotonou to discuss military partnership. Air Force General Fabien Mandon, Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, is also scheduled to attend the same meeting. The three senior officers will discuss military cooperation between their countries and assess future prospects.

Côte d’Ivoire – Benin – France: Doumbia and Mandon to be received by Fructueux Gbaguidi

The Chief of General Staff of the Beninese Armed Forces, Fructueux Gbaguidi, will host his French and Ivorian counterparts this Thursday, March 19, 2026. Sources indicate that this visit is part of a courtesy initiative among top military officials. On the agenda, Gbaguidi and his guests will address military cooperation, with a particular focus on deepening discussions initiated in July 2025 in Abidjan.

Amid growing security challenges in the sub-region, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin continue to adjust their defense strategies to effectively respond to terrorist threats. Alongside the French military leadership, both countries will evaluate the outcomes of their cooperation and outline plans to strengthen partnerships.

A key ally, France positions itself as a strategic pillar for both nations. It is also seeking to reposition itself following its withdrawal from the three countries of the Alliance of Sahel States. This repositioning has fueled tensions between Burkina Faso, Niger and countries such as Benin and Côte d’Ivoire.

France out of the Sahel, but not far away

France has withdrawn militarily from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad, but it remains active in the region. While its presence in Côte d’Ivoire has been adjusted, it was not a forced or definitive withdrawal. Today, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin remain the two countries in the sub-region where France maintains active military cooperation.

In Benin, France supports the army through training and equipment. Beninese authorities have repeatedly stated that there has never been any deployment of French troops on their soil. They have also denied allegations made by the Nigerien president regarding the presence of French military bases in Benin. “Benin has never hosted a foreign military base since 1960,” said Olushegun Adjadi, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

France gains ground with Benin

On Sunday, December 7, 2025, the French army played a strategic role in thwarting an attempted coup led by Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri. Élysée Palace confirmed the intervention of French forces, in coordination with Nigeria, providing “surveillance, observation, and logistical support.” French authorities specified that the intervention followed a request from Benin.

In an interview broadcast on December 10, 2025, by Radio France Internationale, the commander of Benin’s Republican Guard, Colonel Dieudonné Tévoédjrè, stated that French special forces deployed from Abidjan had been involved on the ground:

“They arrived in the late afternoon. Indeed, these French special forces that arrived later in the day assisted in the sweep operations, after the Nigerian army had carried out its strikes and everything was over. These special forces helped us conduct the clearing operations,” he said.