The chiefs of staff of the French, Ivorian and Beninese militaries discussed jihadist activity in northern Benin and Cote d'Ivoire and strengthening trilateral counterterrorism cooperation on March 19, Radio France Internationale reported on March 20. Benin's chief of staff, Gen. Fructueux Gbaguidi, stressed the need to expand intelligence-sharing and pilot, special forces and personnel training to counter disinformation, while Beninese Col. Andre Fofo Dokoui emphasised the need for greater regional cooperation across West Africa, which he said was lacking.

The meeting comes as al Qaeda affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, has resumed attacks against Beninese security forces. France is already supporting Benin's Operation Mirador against JNIM in the north of the country.