Romuald Wadagni, the frontrunner in Benin’s presidential race, is proposing a bold new defense strategy to combat rising jihadist threats in the country’s northern border regions ahead of next month’s election. Wadagni, currently the finance minister under President Patrice Talon, wants to create municipal police forces in vulnerable towns so local youth can be trained and equipped to defend their communities. The proposal comes as insurgent violence linked to Sahel-based groups increasingly spills across the country’s borders near Niger and Nigeria. While details on costs and staffing remain unclear, Wadagni says cooperation with neighbors like Nigeria will be essential. If elected, addressing security concerns in the north could quickly become one of his most urgent tests.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 24, 2026 22:25 UTC