The Africa Center held its annual Topical Outreach Program (TOPS) to Cotonou, Benin, on Oct. 26-28. During their three-day visit, Dr. Mathurin Houngnikpo, the Africa Center’s Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations, and Mary McGurn, Community Affairs Specialist, attended meetings with U.S. and Benin government officials, conducted a chapter capacity-building workshop, and delivered a TOPS symposium entitled “Emerging Security Challenges in Africa.”
During the capacity-building workshop, members of the Benin Chapter discussed their individual and collective perceptions of who they are as a chapter. This discussion led to the chapter members defining the chapter’s mission, values, and vision, as well as goals and objectives the chapter would like to accomplish in the next year.
The topical symposium featured two sessions. The morning session was presented by two Benin Chapter members, Colonel Etienne Adossou, Technical Advisor, Strategic Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Republic of Benin, and Ambassador Robert Zantan, Senior Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Benin to the United States. They discussed the dimensions and implications of global and military defense.
At the afternoon session, Dr. Houngnikpo delivered a presentation about different elements involved in the democratic process. Both sessions generated extensive discussion among the 135 participants who represented Benin’s current and future civilian and military security professionals, as well as representatives from Benin’s civil society.
There are 22 Community Chapters (Africa Center alumni associations) in Africa. Under the TOPS program, Africa Center staff visit each of the 22 countries once a year to maintain long-term positive relationships with them and to continue the Africa Center experience of open and frank dialogue on security-related topics of mutual interest to the members, their governments, and the U.S. government.
View more photos from this event
Visit the Benin Community Chapter page
