The Bèmbèrèkè military training centre came alive on Thursday, 25 June 2026, as nearly 900 trainees from the Republican Police and the Water, Forests and Hunting Corps officially joined the ranks during a solemn ceremony.
This milestone marks the formal end of their basic joint training and seals their sacred commitment to serving republican security and protecting the nation’s environmental heritage.
Under the patronage of the ministers responsible for interior and public security as well as national defence, the event gathered the country’s top security hierarchy, notably the Chief of General Staff of the Bénin Armed Forces and the Director General of the Republican Police.
In his welcome address, the centre’s commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Armand Assogbaga, highlighted the deeply symbolic significance of this ritual, which marks a definitive break from civilian life. He reminded the new officers that the presentation to the flag is not mere formality, but demands iron discipline, unyielding courage, and absolute loyalty to the homeland.
The highlight of the day remained 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 awarding the fourragère. This military distinction rewards months of intense physical and tactical effort, embodying their new status as guardians of the law and shields against current environmental and security threats.
