Macron says France will equip Benin militarily against terrorism

DOUALA, Cameroon

France will provide military equipment to the French-speaking West African nation Benin to support its efforts to fight terrorism, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.

The French leader's pledge came in a news conference with his Beninese counterpart Patrice Talon in the second stop of his three-nation tour of West African states.

Both presidents agreed on France's support in Benin for security, culture, and education.

Talon deplored the lack of supply of military equipment and materials requested from France.

"We have the financial means to acquire this equipment but with the tensions in the world, it is becoming problematic. You have made a commitment to do what it takes," he said.

Macron, for his part, said the acquisition of the equipment does not only depend on France, whose army does not sell it, but it also requires a prior structuring from Benin.

The West African country "is not structured to buy and does not have the function that we have structured in France with a general delegation for armaments," he said, pledging that the equipment will be delivered through France in the short term and that technical cooperation will help Benin to structure the equivalent of a general delegation for armaments.

France will always stand by Benin and its authorities to fight terrorism by responding to the requests of the Beninese authorities, Macron said.

Economy, education, culture

On a working visit to Benin, Macron held a one-on-one meeting with Talon, who received his French counterpart at the Marina Palace, the presidential compound.

The leaders' meeting was followed by a working session between the Beninese and French authorities, and a visit to a diptych exhibition at the Museum of Royal Treasures and Contemporary Arts of Benin.

During their address, Macron and Talon hailed the quality of bilateral ties between the two countries.

"If I have to describe our relations in recent times, I would say that they are relaxed and free from the burdens of the past," said the Beninese president, giving credit to his French counterpart.

Talon expressed a desire to see more French investments in Benin, praising the development of an "unparalleled" economic cooperation between the two countries over the past two years.

France has been economically supportive outside the bond market while the economic relations have reached "an unhoped-for level never approached before, more than 10 times their volume on a five-year average over the last 30 years," Talon said.

He announced the signing of a new strategic partnership agreement for the 2022-2026 period which will take relations to a new level.

Separately, an agreement on the Beninese education system was signed. The West African country has decided to focus on technical vocational training and expects the European Union to provide significant support.

"We hope that France will support us with the EU so that this can be achieved quickly," said Talon, who also asked for direct support from France in terms of deploying trainers in Benin.

Macron's visit was also an opportunity to visit the 26 artworks that France returned to Benin in February. These treasures of Beninese culture had been looted in 1892 by French colonial troops from the Royal Palaces of Abomey in south-central Benin.

They are currently on special display in Benin and are, according to Talon, proof of the "good relations, unencumbered and free of the burdens of the past" between the countries.

Macron reiterated the restitution of art pieces in accordance with French rules protecting works of art.

"We want to make the framework of this restitution simpler," he said, adding that academic work is underway for it.

This restitution is "neither a gift nor a political gesture" but corresponds to "very scientifically established criteria on the conditions of exit, reception and conservation" of these, the French president said.

Benin and France have also committed to supporting each other in cultural projects.

Political prisoners

Asked about the political exiles and detainees in Benin during the recent political upheavals, including his second reelection, Talon said no one in the country is detained for their political views.

No one has also been expelled from Benin, he said, speaking of the exiles who, according to Talon, should return to the country to be cleared by justice.

"For me, there is no such thing as a valid claim that concerns perpetrators of crimes and misdemeanors. They must face up to what they have done," he added.

During the meeting, Macron also spoke about the Russia-Ukraine war, mentioning the Russian involvement and behavior, which he said was "imperial and colonial."

"Russia decided to invade a neighboring country to defend its interests. When you see them poking their heads out at you, don't see anything else, even if they tell you the opposite," he said.

Macron will travel to Guinea Bissau on Wednesday evening, where he will mark the end of his mini Africa tour that began on Monday in Cameroon.