The military training centre in Bèmbèrèkè was alive with a solemn ceremony on Thursday, 25 June 2026. Nearly 900 recruits from the Republican Police and the Water and Forest Corps officially joined the ranks.
This landmark event marks the official end of their basic joint training and seals their sacred commitment to serving republican security and protecting the nation’s environmental heritage.
Presided over by the ministers for Interior and Public Security and National Defence, the ceremony brought together the country’s top security hierarchy, including the Chief of General Staff of the Bénin Armed Forces and the Director General of the Republican Police.
In his welcome speech, the centre commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Armand Assogbaga, emphasised the highly symbolic significance of this ritual, which marks a definitive break from civilian life. He reminded the new officers that the presentation to the flag is not mere formality; it demands iron discipline, unwavering courage, and absolute loyalty to the homeland.
The highlight of the day was the official presentation of the national flag, a solemn act that formally welcomed these young men and women into the larger family of defence and security forces. This powerful moment was immediately followed by the ritual awarding of the fourragère. This military decoration rewards months of intense physical and tactical effort, symbolising their new status as guardians of the law and shields against current environmental and security threats.
