Benin-Rwanda: Talon received Kagame to set an example of fruitful South-South cooperation

2023-04-15 18:08:00

The Rwandan and Beninese presidents affirmed their commitment to fruitful cooperation between their countries to set an example in Africa. It was on the occasion of the state visit to Benin by the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame on April 15 and 16, 2023.

Fight against terrorism, tourism, agriculture, digital, exchanges of skills are among others the areas of cooperation between Benin and Rwanda. The two countries intend to develop this cooperation according to the commitments of their respective presidents who met on Saturday April 15 at the Palais de la Marina.

Deployment of soldiers against terrorism

During their joint press conference after the signing of various agreements, President Patrice Talon spoke about some expectations of relations with Rwanda. These include the support of the country of Paul Kagame to the fight against terrorism in Benin. “Military cooperation between Benin and Rwanda is limitless and can go, if necessary, in joint deployments”confided Patrice Talon. “But I know that before long the situation in the north of our country will be completely under control so that we don’t need to come to this.“. Benin would thus benefit from Rwanda’s experience in the fight against terrorism acquired in Mozambique or the Central African Republic.

Exchange the experts

Rwandan nationals occupy high positions in the administration in Benin. Their appointment, in particular that of the Director General of the National Agency for the Identification of Persons, is controversial. But Patrice Talon assumed this option. It is part of the agreements with Rwanda. And in general, his government has no “no complex” to resort to foreign skills, particularly African ones, to work in Benin, justified the Beninese president.

The two presidents lend themselves to questions from journalists. One of them concerns the promotion of Rwandan executives to strategic positions in Benin. On this, Patrice Talon replies that “Benin has no complex in seeking expertise where it is”. (1) pic.twitter.com/1AGoC2PLR5

— ORTB (@ortb_info) April 15, 2023

But is the reciprocal required in Rwanda? To this question, Paul Kagame replied that the principle of the exchange of skills having been acquired, his country would not hesitate to benefit in turn from Beninese expertise. The exchanges may not be simultaneous, he admitted.

Overall, the two Heads of State affirmed their desire to develop the Kigali-Cotonou axis to “give visibility in terms of South-South cooperation”, in the words of Patrice Talon.