After 43 years of dedicated service to the nation, Air Force General Bertin Bada has officially retired from the Benin Armed Forces.
A solemn farewell at the Cotonou Air Base
A formal ceremony was held this Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Cotonou Air Base to mark the occasion. The event featured full military honors, a salute to the national flag, and a final troop review, serving as a farewell to the army’s highest-ranking officer.
The proceedings were attended by several high-ranking officials, including General Fructueux Gbaguidi, Chief of General Staff of the Benin Armed Forces, and Gildas Agonkan, the Minister Delegate for National Defense. They both paid tribute to a career defined by professional rigor and unwavering commitment.
A legacy of high-level service
Promoted to the rank of five-star general on February 9, 2026, Bertin Bada subsequently took on the role of defense and security advisor to President Romuald Wadagni. His extensive background also includes serving as the director of the military cabinet for former President Patrice Talon.
At 63, General Bada concludes a dense and distinguished career. His path was also marked by a significant personal tragedy during the attempted coup on December 7, 2025, an ordeal during which he lost his wife.