OUIDAH, Benin – Denmark has deployed military personnel to Benin for the first time, sending army engineers to support specialist training in mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal as part of efforts to strengthen security capabilities in West Africa.
The deployment involved Danish Army engineer soldiers who spent ten weeks at the regional demining training centre, known as CPADD, in Ouidah, where they shared technical expertise in mine action and the safe handling of explosive devices.
The mission was conducted under Denmark’s Peace and Stabilisation Fund’s West Africa Programme, which supports initiatives aimed at improving regional security and strengthening local capacity to address threats posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
On October 29, Danish Ambassador to Nigeria Jens Ole Bach Hansen and Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Laugesen attended the centre’s closing ceremony, marking the completion of a nine-week Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training programme.
The Danish military personnel served as instructors, working with trainees to develop the practical knowledge and technical skills required to identify, manage and safely dispose of explosive hazards, including mines and remnants of war.
According to the Embassy of Denmark in Nigeria, the deployment represents a new phase in defence cooperation between Denmark and Benin, building on Copenhagen’s existing financial support for CPADD.
The initiative also involved cooperation with international partners, including the Belgian Armed Forces, reflecting a wider effort to strengthen collaboration among countries supporting mine action and security training across West Africa.
The training centre in Ouidah plays a regional role in developing expertise in explosive ordnance disposal, an area of growing importance for countries dealing with the security and humanitarian consequences of landmines and explosive remnants of conflict.
Denmark’s contribution combines military expertise, institutional support and international partnerships to help develop local capabilities, enabling trained personnel in the region to respond more effectively to explosive threats.
The Danish embassy congratulated the participants who completed the programme and acknowledged CPADD and the organisations involved in delivering the training.
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