Terrorism in West Africa: Accra Initiative finalizes joint operation in Cotonou

with our correspondent in Cotonou, Jean-Luc Aplogan

Admitted as an observer country alongside Niger, Mali was absent, certainly due to ECOWAS sanctions. All other member countries of the Accra Initiative, launched in 2017, were represented: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo. An organization whose action consists of sharing information, intelligence, and joint military operations.

In the hotel where the meeting was held, under very tight security, the big names of the region's secret services. The work was essentially devoted to terrorism with one major concern: seeing jihadist groups operating in coastal countries.

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Benin did not escape this: only on Monday, as the meeting was being held, an improvised mine coupled with an ambush killed five Beninese soldiers. How to respond? Mobilize, organize better and strike back together. Joint actions have been carried out in the past, they must be continued and expanded, the conference decided.

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A large-scale joint operation was in preparation, it was validated by interior ministers. Final step, an important change: the operation will not last just a few days, it will be planned over twelve months. According to our information, seven countries are expected to participate. Border zones will be the main areas of operation.