Grand African Nemo: Benin tests maritime pollution response
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
Illustrative image · Hobi Photography · Pexels · Licence PexelsBenin is taking part in the Grand African Nemo 2026 maritime exercise, held in the Gulf of Guinea from 27 October to 6 November with 19 African navies and seven partner navies. Beninese manoeuvres between Ouidah and Sèmè-Podji, scheduled from 2 to 5 November, will test responses to pollution and the judicial handling of offences at sea, La Nouvelle Tribune reports.
Benin will take part from 2 to 4 November 2026 in exercises between Ouidah and Sèmè-Podji focused on combating accidental oil pollution. The exercises are part of the ninth edition of Grand African Nemo, held from 27 October to 6 November in the Gulf of Guinea, according to La Nouvelle Tribune.
The edition brings together 19 African navies and seven partner navies, including the French navy. Participants are also simulating responses to piracy, illicit trafficking and illegal fishing, as well as sea rescue operations.
A mock trial scheduled for 5 November is intended to test the ability of Beninese judicial authorities to deal with offences committed at sea. Grand African Nemo, created in 2018, brought together more than 4,000 people from the relevant administrations during its 2024 edition. These exercises extend the maritime crisis-response exercises announced for Benin in the Gulf of Guinea.
