As part of the drive to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), a large-scale military exercise, dubbed METROPOLIS 2025, will be held this Friday, March 21, on Ouidah beach.
Placed under the supervision of the General Staff of the Beninese Armed Forces and the Republican Police, this simulation aims to assess the forces’ reactivity in the event of a terrorist attack in an urban environment.
Faced with today’s security challenges, the armed forces and police are stepping up their efforts to improve coordination and refine their intervention strategies. METROPOLIS 2025 is part of this dynamic, testing warning, response and crisis management systems through realistic scenarios.
This exercise will enable us to gauge the effectiveness of our troops in emergency situations, and reinforce the synergy between the various units involved.
This is the second training exercise of this type to be held in Benin, confirming the authorities’ commitment to consolidating the forces’ preparedness in the face of terrorist threats. To avoid any confusion, the population of Ouidah and the surrounding area is invited not to be alarmed by military movements, and to carry on with their normal activities.
A social component to benefit the population
In addition to its security objective, METROPOLIS 2025 includes a social dimension aimed at strengthening the ties between the defense forces and the population.
From March 19 to 21, 2025, free medical consultations will be held at the Ouidah town hall. Residents will be able to benefit from free consultations in general medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology, urology and ENT.
This initiative illustrates the authorities’ determination to make the defense forces a key player in social well-being, while guaranteeing an optimal security climate for all.