BuaNews (Tshwane)
Edwin Tshivhidzo
24 June 2008
Pretoria — The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has forged a partnership with its Benin equivalent to increase military cooperation.
Defence Minister Mosioua Lekota and his Benin counterpart Issifo Kogui Ndouro on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) seeking to develop and formulate procedures for military cooperation between the two armed forces.
"The agreement includes promoting the training of military personnel through the exchange of trainees, instructors and observers," Minister Lekota said.
South African Air Force personnel will provide training to the Benin Air Force personnel with a view to improving their skills.
"We are also going to cooperate on the acquisition of military equipment, technical cooperation as well as in the area of military medical services."
The agreement will also pave the way for an exchange of knowledge and training in the carrying out of United Nations and African Union peacekeeping operations where needed, particularly on the African continent.
"We are aware of your vast experience in peacekeeping missions, which therefore creates a solid platform to draw lessons from one another," the minister said.
In response, Benin Defence Minister Ndouro said he was excited to forge a partnership with a country like South Africa.
"South Africa has a great role to play not only in our country but the continent as a whole. The signing of the agreement is in line with the building of meaningful solutions," he added.
He assured Minister Lekota that the government of Benin will do everything possible to sustain the relations between the two countries.
To date, the SANDF had signed a number of agreements with a number of African countries in the line of defence.
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