The delegation, led by CTED, conducted an on-site visit to the Akpro-Missérété Prison, and held discussions with the prison’s administration.
Acting on behalf of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee, its Executive Directorate (CTED) conducted its first country assessment visit to the Republic of Benin from 13 to 17 March 2023. The visit concluded the Committee’s hybrid assessment of Benin, following a visit in July 2021 conducted virtually due to travel restrictions related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The assessment covered all relevant Security Council resolutions, including 1373 (2001), 2178 (2014), and 2396 (2017), and included engagement with the Government of Benin.
The delegation — led by the CTED Chief of Section for Africa and including other CTED experts as well as representatives of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money-Laundering in West Africa and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel – conducted on-site visits to the Akpro-Missérété Prison, the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin Airport in Cotonou, the Port of Cotonou, the seat of the Court for the Repression of Economic Crimes and Terrorism, the Laboratory of the Technical and Scientific Police Service and the investigation laboratory of the Agency of Computer and Digital Systems. In accordance with Security Council resolution 2617 (2021), the delegation met with representatives of civil society organizations to discuss measures taken by Benin in the area of counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism (CVE) conducive to terrorism as well as the impact of Benin’s counter-terrorism measures on human rights.
Thematic areas covered during the visit included counter-terrorism legislation, criminal justice, and international cooperation in criminal matters; anti-money-laundering/countering the financing of terrorism; law enforcement; border management, including aviation and maritime security; and CVE conducive to terrorism. In accordance with the practice followed for the Committee’s previous visits, the discussions also included the gender dimension and the roles of women in countering terrorism and violent extremism.