Fifty-three individuals of African descent, originating primarily from Haiti, Martinique, and France, formally acquired Beninese nationality during a ceremony held at the Cotonou Judicial Complex on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the initiative forms part of Cotonou’s broader legislative policy aimed at reconnecting with the historical African diaspora and granting full legal rights to descendants seeking a formal return to their ancestral roots.
The citizenship ceremony establishes legal recognition for the beneficiaries while advancing Benin’s strategic objective to leverage dual nationality as a tool for pan-African integration and transatlantic cultural exchange. Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the Beninese state, highlighting that obtaining official documentation resolves long-standing identity questions while opening avenues for investment, residency, and heritage preservation. Through these naturalisation proceedings, the government of Benin continues to position the nation as a symbolic and administrative gateway for members of the global Afro-diaspora seeking legal alignment with the African continent.
TE/Sf/lb/abj/APA