Bénin recruits 895 officers for police and forest corps in solemn ceremony
The military training center of Bèmbèrèkè echoed with pride and solemnity as 895 recruits from the Republican Police and the Forestry and Water Corps were officially welcomed into service on June 25, 2026.
In a ceremony that drew high-ranking officials, family members, and proud supporters, the recruits from the 2024 and 2025 classes of the Forestry, Water, and Hunting Corps, along with the 2025 class of the Republican Police, were sworn in under the national flag. This momentous event marked the successful completion of their foundational training and their official commitment to safeguarding the nation’s security and environmental heritage.
The ceremony was presided over by the ministers of Interior and Public Security, as well as Defense, and was attended by top security officials, including the Chief of Staff of the Beninese Armed Forces and the Director General of the Republican Police.
Lieutenant-Colonel Armand Assogbaga, commander of the training center, delivered a powerful address emphasizing the symbolic weight of the occasion. He reminded the new officers that their presentation to the flag was not a mere formality but a lifelong pledge to uphold unwavering discipline, courage, and loyalty to the nation.
The highlight of the day came when the recruits were formally presented with the national flag, symbolizing their official induction into the ranks of the defense and security forces. This was followed by the awarding of the fourragère, a military decoration that recognizes their grueling months of physical and tactical training. The ornament signifies their new roles as guardians of the law and protectors against environmental and security threats.
The event underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s law enforcement and environmental protection capabilities, ensuring a safer and more secure future for all citizens.
