Benin opens its military schools to future Haitian officers

Benin has responded favorably to a request from Haiti: its military schools could train future Haitian officers. According to Vant Bèf Info, Army General Fructueux Gbaguidi, Chief of the General Staff of the Beninese Armed Forces, gave this response during a working visit by General Derby Guerrier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H).

What Port-au-Prince requested

General Guerrier sought Benin's support for the training of Haitian army officers. The response from his Beninese counterpart is presented as an agreement in principle, rather than a program already in place.

What the Ministry of Defense says

According to the media outlet, the Haitian Ministry of Defense made the information public in a press release dated November 3. The ministry believes this opening should foster the transfer of knowledge and the sharing of experiences between the two armies. For the FAd'H, it also offers the opportunity to strengthen the training of their future officers and develop their professional skills, as part of an effort to build the institution's capabilities.

What remains unknown

The ministry did not indicate how many Haitian soldiers might be involved. The training programs, admission requirements for Beninese institutions, practical arrangements, and launch date were also not announced.