333 Views
PH:DR: Alassane SEIDOU, Minister of the Interior and Public Security
On the eve of African Border Day celebrated every June 7 in Africa, the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Mr. Alassane SEIDOU, delivered a message to the people of Benin. It was for him to situate the current context of the celebration of the event marked in the countries of the Gulf of Guinea by a resurgence of the phenomenon of insecurity and the advent of the phenomenon of violent extremism. Phenomena generated by several factors including, among others, the vulnerability and persistence of poverty, the lack of political governance as well as the impacts of climate change.
In Benin, where the celebration of this day is coupled with the launch of the National Borders Week, the theme this year is: “Stability and prevention of fragilities at the borders of the Gulf of Guinea countries: Perspectives for Benin”.
Below, the full message delivered by Alassane SEIDOU, Minister of the Interior and Public Security
Beninese and Beninese!
Dear compatriots!
On June 7 every year, all African states commemorate African Borders Day. Established in 2010 by the African Union Commission as part of the implementation of its Border Programme, this day helps to raise public awareness of the political, economic, human and security issues related to the development of these areas. On the sidelines of this event, Benin has, since 2014, chosen to dedicate a week to national borders. For this tenth (10th) edition, the theme chosen is “Stability and prevention of fragilities at the borders of the Gulf of Guinea countries: what prospects for Benin?” “.
Dear compatriots,
This theme was chosen with the aim of discussing the challenges and current dynamics of border areas, disseminating and promoting inclusive development practices in fragile areas and finally agreeing on a common approach to cooperation between regional institutions. , state actors, municipalities, grassroots communities on the structural security and stabilization of border areas exposed to the risk of violence.
Indeed, since 2008 and 2018, the countries of the Gulf of Guinea have been wedged between the resurgence of the phenomenon of insecurity and the advent of the terrorist phenomenon respectively in the Lake Chad basin and in the Malian Sahel and its gradual shift towards the countries of the Gulf of Guinea. These phenomena of insecurity are linked to illicit activities and represent a worrying trend that threatens the economy and the development of the Sahelian countries and the northern communities of the coastal countries.
The advent of this crisis is explained by several vulnerability factors including the persistence of poverty and underdevelopment, the lack of political governance and resources and the impacts of climate change and variability.
Beninese and Beninese!
The edition of Beninese Borders Week will be marked this year by the launch of the local security plan for the border town of Pobè, strategic thinking workshops, inaugurations of socio-community and security infrastructures, capacity building for actors, mobile medical consultations and others.
This is why I would like to express my sincere gratitude, on the occasion of this Day, to all our partners, to all state and non-state actors, to all local and traditional authorities for their unfailing support and to urge them to work alongside the Beninese Agency for Integrated Management of Border Areas, ABeGIEF, for the forthcoming organization of the “Forum of Ambassadors” to be held in July in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the “International Forum on Stability and Prevention fragilities at African borders” in October 2023 in Cotonou. This will enable our country to fully play its role as Champion in the implementation of effective border governance in Africa.
Long live African Borders Day!
Long live Integrated Border Management in the service of the prevention of fragilities!
Long live Benin!
Thank you
