Bénin welcomes 895 new police and forest ranger recruits into service

The Bèmbèrèkè military training centre came alive on Thursday, 25 June 2026, as a solemn ceremony unfolded. Nearly 900 recruits from the Republican Police and the Water and Forest Corps officially entered the ranks.

This milestone event marks the end of their basic joint training and seals their sacred commitment to serving the nation’s security and protecting its environmental heritage.

Presided over by the ministers of Interior and Public Security, and National Defence, the ceremony gathered the country’s top security hierarchy. The Chief of General Staff of the Bénin Armed Forces and the Director General of the Republican Police were notably present.

In his welcome address, the centre commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Armand Assogbaga, highlighted the deeply symbolic nature of this ritual, which marks the definitive break from civilian life. He reminded the new agents that the presentation to the flag is not mere formality; it demands iron discipline, unwavering courage, and absolute loyalty to the homeland.

The climax of the day was the official presentation of the national flag, a solemn act that marks the formal entry of these young men and women into the great family of defence and security forces. This powerful moment was immediately followed by the ritual of the fourragère award. 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.