Benin – DefenceWeb

The Forces Armées Béninoises or Benin Armed Forces (FAB) is a small force, lightly equipped, but enjoys a reputation as a reliable, western-aligned regional partner. Established in 1960 upon Benin’s independence from France, the FAB has, despite a history of military intervention in politics, including a number of coups in the 1960s and 1970s, remained largely apolitical over the past 25 years of democratic rule, with the notable exception of a failed coup attempt led by elements of the National Guard in December 2025. 

The FAB is primarily responsible for external security, border security, and, when needed, supporting the Republican Police in maintaining internal security. Regional security dynamics have seen the FAB’s focus pulled in two distinct directions over the past decade. The first and most pressing has been the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel, where the southward expansion of Islamist extremist groups has prompted significant concern. 

These concerns were reinforced in the wake of increased activity by groups such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State – Sahel Province (ISSP) in Benin’s northern departments of Atacora, Alibori, and Borgou. As a consequence, since 2021 the FAB has been forced to allocate an increasing share of its resources to the north as the country is drawn deeper into counter-insurgency operations. The FAB is thought to have lost over 200 soldiers in clashes with insurgents over the past five years. Recent coups in Benin’s northern neighbours, Burkina Faso and Niger, have also seen regional tensions rise, with the deterioration of relations between Benin and Niger driving concern. 

The other key regional dynamic is the persistent threat of maritime piracy throughout the Gulf of Guinea. Following a surge in incidents across the Gulf, including in Beninese waters in the early 2020s, Benin, as part of ECOWAS, began a modest programme aimed at enhancing Benin’s maritime capabilities. 

Having recognised these dual threats, over the past decade Benin has embarked on a sustained programme of military modernisation and capability expansion. While progress has been slow due to consistently low levels of defence spending over the past decade, the recent (2025) approval of Benin’s Defence Ministry’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan has seen a notable increase in defence spending, signalling the government’s intent to ramp up defence modernisation and enhance its capabilities in both counter-insurgency and counter-piracy operations. 

The Army has seen enhanced regional cooperation, renewed and expanded counter-insurgency training by external partners, the procurement of several new systems ranging from armoured personnel carriers to artillery, as well as the construction of several new military installations along its borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. 

The Navy has seen the procurement, largely through donations, of a limited number of small patrol boats, while in 2025 six out of its nine principal surface vessels were sent to Nigeria’s Naval Dockyard Ltd for refurbishment. The Air Force, for its part, has received a modest uplift in its capabilities following the procurement of several new helicopters and light transport aircraft, enabling its primary role of providing transport, logistics, and reconnaissance support to the other service branches. 

Comparatively little is known about the relatively new National Guard. It remains primarily a special forces unit tasked with countering insurgents and maritime piracy. Since the involvement of elements of the National Guard in the 2025 coup, it has undergone a change of command.