Benin: United States Support for the Counterterrorism Investigation Unit of the Police – La Nouvelle Tribune

The Benin Counterterrorism Investigation Unit was inaugurated on September 24, 2026, in Cotonou, with renovated premises equipped by the United States, including computers, investigative tools, and crime scene analysis equipment. Minister of the Interior Djibril Mama Cissé and the US chargé d’affaires jointly officially opened the facility, emphasizing the partnership between the two countries in combating terrorism. This support is part of Benin’s broader security efforts, which include military agreements, French assistance with explosive detection, EU-funded demining programs, and a significant budget increase. The US equipment enhances investigative and data processing capabilities and is linked to the ICITAP program to professionalize the police force.