The L’Institut d’études de sécurité (ISS) co-organized the public roundtable – Prevention of Violent Extremism in the Republic of Benin.
Since the beginning of 2018, security incidents in the eastern region of Burkina Faso have raised concerns about the risk of an expansion of violent extremism towards neighbouring coastal states. This region shares borders with Niger, already affected by the phenomenon, Benin, Togo and Ghana. The use of improvised explosive devices and attacks against defense and security forces, schools and local or customary authorities indicate the likely involvement of active groups in the Sahel, such as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara or Ansarul Islam.
This public round table, jointly organized by the Beninese Agency for Integrated Management of Border Spaces and the Institute for Security Studies, follows the National Workshop for Sharing Analyses and Experiences on the Prevention of Violent Extremism in West Africa and the Republic of Benin, held on December 12 and 13, 2018, in Cotonou, Benin. It served as a forum for exchanges between members of the accredited diplomatic corps in Benin, cooperation agencies, sub-regional, regional and international organizations, civil society and journalists based in Cotonou.
