As extremist violence moves south from the Sahel, Benin is taking a bold approach to prevent JNIM infiltration: empowering communities to co-lead their own security. And we at Strategic Stabilization Advisors (SSA) are proud to be supporting that work. 🧵

L’équipe américaine des affaires civilo-militaires, aux côtés des experts de Strategic Stabilization Advisors, est de nouveau sur le terrain ! Tout au long du mois d’octobre, plus de 50 membres des Forces armées de Côte d’Ivoire (FACI) suivent une formation pour devenir coordonnateurs civilo-militaires. Ces coordonnateurs conseilleront directement les commandants des unités des FACI et mettront en œuvre des programmes au profit des populations locales, tout en renforçant les liens avec les communautés à travers la Côte d’Ivoire. Des opérations civilo-militaires efficaces contribuent à lutter contre le terrorisme, à solidifier les relations entre les forces armées et les populations civiles et à renforcer la coordination à l’échelle nationale. Ces formations témoignent de la coopération croissante entre nos deux armées et soulignent l’importance de partenariats civilo-militaires solides au niveau local pour lutter contre l’instabilité dans toute la région.

Over the last year, Spirit of America has been working alongside our U.S. military partners, @StratStability, and the Beninese Army (FAB) in Benin to facilitate trust with the local population through #OperationMirador. Civil-military cooperation helps to chip away at the foundations that terrorist groups depend on to operate and survive: social grievances, disenfranchisement, and economic isolation. Providing solutions to the needs identified jointly by the community and military improves coordination — and more importantly, trust — between civilians and the state, and encourages civic engagement and joint governance in fragile areas. In Cobly, a town in northwest Benin, we funded the roof rehabilitation for a 3-room schoolhouse benefitting 150 students, and the construction of a borehole at the Tapoga health center, increasing access to clean water for the nearly 7,000 patients the center serves annually, as well as the full population of the village. 🔨🚰 As this activity was implemented by the military, it helped restore the image of the government in the people's eyes while also directly addressing some of their most urgent needs quickly. Projects like these have given the FAB a long-term platform for collaboration and coordination directly with civilian populations, helping to stop the spread of extremism in West Africa and debunk false narratives that armed groups spread.

Investing in the future of Côte d’Ivoire.  During #Flintlock26, 91st Civil Affairs Battalion soldiers joined Ivorian civil-military forces to provide school supplies to 600+ students and engage with 1,200+ young leaders at a national career forum. #StrongerTogether #IvoirianCoast

Les Forces spéciales ivoiriennes ont participé à un séminaire de deux jours sur les actions civilo-militaires aux côtés de formateurs américains. Ces échanges ont porté sur l’engagement auprès des communautés et le renforcement de la confiance du public. Une confiance renforcée permet aux forces de mieux protéger les populations et de contribuer à la stabilité. #PlusFortEnsemble #AvançonsEnsemble

I’m happy to announce that our premier special operations exercise in Africa, Flintlock 2026, has begun. This exercise will forge stronger bonds between all those participating and demonstrate our shared commitments to confronting and degrading terrorism in Africa. - U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, @USAfricaCommand Deputy Commander. @USEmbassyLibya @USEmbAbidjan dvidshub.net/news/562708/fli…

In northern Benin, security and stability starts with trust. 🤝 As one part of #OperationMirador — a major military initiative to combat jihadist violence and extremist threats — the Beninese Army (FAB) is bringing free medical care directly to communities, strengthening the bond between civilians and those working to protect them. With support from Spirit of America and our implementing partner @StratStability, military medical teams are delivering care, equipment, and essential medicines to families who otherwise have limited access to healthcare options. 🩺💊 Colonel Tassou Abdou Wassiou, who coordinates the operation’s civil-military efforts for the FAB, underscored that medical outreach efforts like this are about more than healthcare — they’re a critical part of a broader strategy to build trust, reinforce security, and open channels for dialogue and information-sharing that help create conditions for lasting stability in the region. Spirit of America is adapting and extending efforts like this that leverage American expertise to combat terrorist threats around Africa and the world.

In the coming weeks, we’ll highlight some of the most successful projects completed in the first year of this program. This work reflects the Beninese Armed Forces’ commitment to innovation, partnership, and population-centered security — an approach that is increasingly recognized as essential for confronting today’s insurgent threats. 🤝 We are proud to work with the FAB, @abernard and her team at @StratStability, and other local partners to strengthen locally-led solutions to complex security challenges. #CivMilCommittees #CommunitySupport #Benin #WestAfrica

The #Sahel has become the deadliest region in the world for terrorism, and the violence is spreading into coastal West Africa, with Benin facing growing pressure along its northern border. Defeating insurgencies requires close cooperation with local communities. With Spirit of America's support, the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) have taken proactive steps to strengthen their ability to protect both their territory and local families. 🇧🇯 In coordination with U.S. partners, we have worked with our regional partner, @StratStability (SSA) and the Beninese Armed Forces to develop a new model to rebuild trust between communities and security forces in the north. Through civil-military committees, civilians and security forces can now share information, identify risks early, and develop local solutions together. In the areas where these committees operate, trust between communities and the military has improved, access to key zones has expanded, and early warning has helped prevent attacks before they occur.