Fortunet Nouatin presents the defense budget, deputies call for its increase

2023-11-23 00:39:24

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Alain Fortunet Nouatin, Minister of National Defense

The Minister of National Defense, Alain Fortunet Nouatin was before the Budget Commission of the National Assembly on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, where he explained the main orientations of the draft budget of his ministry for the year 2024. Taking into account current security challenges, the 2024 management budget of the Ministry of National Defense has increased by 7.37% compared to that of 2023, the minister said. These large budgetary masses for 2024 compared to those for 2023, according to the presentation of Minister Fortunet Nouatin, are justified by the increase in personnel expenses essentially due to salaries and planned recruitment, as well as the increase operating expenses of services for the purposes of strengthening security operations already underway on the national territory. Indeed, the ministry plans to continue in 2024 the reforms intended to enable the strengthening of the operational capacities of the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) through the training of personnel, the training of teams, the construction of major infrastructure and the equipment of units. The continuation and completion of several construction works started in the various garrisons are also taken into account.

Following his presentation, the deputies noted the courage of the FAB which allows populations to exercise in peace. They also welcomed the good execution of the credits allocated to the Institution in 2023. They also took the opportunity to learn more, among other things, about the state of military cooperation with Benin’s neighboring countries, the training of new recruits, GSM network coverage of certain risk areas, the living conditions of the Beninese soldier, the morale of the troop, etc. In line with their satisfaction, they were unanimously not very proud of the 2024 draft budget presented by Minister Fortunet Alain Nouatin. Also, they suggested its raising to allow the defense forces to exercise in better conditions.