Spanish troops provide training to the Armed Forces of Benin under the European cooperation mission with African nations

• Two Spanish military teams from the Canary Islands Command deliver generator maintenance and imagery intelligence training courses to Beninese Armed Forces personnel

Two Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) from the Canary Islands Command (MCANA in Spanish) are currently conducting training courses for members of the Beninese Armed Forces. These activities are part of the European Union Security and Defence Initiative in support of West African countries in the Gulf of Guinea (EU SDI GoG), in which Spain has played an active role since its launch in 2023.

On one hand, personnel from Logistics Unit N. 24 (MCANA) are delivering a two-week ‘Generator Maintenance’ course at the Direction de Matériel des Armées (DMA) in Cotonou (Benin). The training emphasises the strategic importance of logistics and maintenance, aiming to enhance the Beninese Army’s capability in selecting appropriate generators for operational use, commissioning them, and ensuring optimal upkeep to maximise lifespan and efficiency. The course includes both, theoretical and hands-on practical sessions, reinforcing classroom instruction through real-world application.

On the other hand, another team of Spanish Armed Forces instructors, also from MCANA, is sharing expertise in a course on Imagery Intelligence. This training equips personnel from different branches of the Beninese Armed Forces with the skills to convert imagery—acquired via aerial platforms—into actionable intelligence, enabling commanders to make informed operational decisions based on accurate and timely information.

Spanish Participation in the EU Security and Defence Initiative

The EU Council Decision 2023/1599 under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) launched the European Union Security and Defence Initiative in support of West African countries in the Gulf of Guinea (EU SDI GoG). Its primary strategic objective is to support Benin and Ghana—countries where the mission is deployed—in developing security and defence forces capable of responding effectively to the threats posed by armed terrorist groups.

To date, Spain has conducted four previous training courses in Benin, focusing on the maintenance of optical and optronic equipment and broader logistical topics. These have now been complemented by the current courses on generator systems and imagery intelligence. All of these have been delivered by personnel from various units under the Canary Islands Command, deployed to Benin as part of Spain’s contribution to the initiative.

The Gulf of Guinea remains a region of strategic interest for the European Union and particularly for Spain, which works in close cooperation with other EU member states including France, Belgium, and Portugal. The initiative seeks to enhance the operational capacity and self-sufficiency of security and defence forces in Benin, Ghana, Togo, and Côte d'Ivoire, enabling them to contain northern threats from terrorist groups and support their governments in improving human security and socio-economic conditions for the local population.