The Embassy of the Republic of Chad in the Republic of Benin officially began its operations in Cotonou on January 2, 2026.
This new diplomatic mission, which also holds jurisdiction over Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, is currently led by Mori Tomasta Namde, serving as the First Counselor and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim. The embassy is temporarily located in the Haie Vive district of Cotonou, occupying the former premises of the Chadian Consulate General, and represents the first time Chad has established a permanent diplomatic mission in Benin.
The establishment of this embassy occurs during a period when Chad has been closing several other diplomatic missions abroad as part of a broader strategy to streamline its international network due to budgetary constraints. Despite these general reductions, the opening in Cotonou underscores a strategic decision by Chadian authorities to maintain a focused and effective presence within the West African region.
An official inauguration ceremony was held to mark the occasion, attended by various prominent Beninese and foreign diplomatic figures. Key attendees included Ambassador Marius Loko, representing the Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Randal Oguidan, the Ministry’s Director General of External Relations. The event also drew the presence of the Ambassador of Niger to Benin, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and leaders from the local Chadian community. The proceedings concluded with official speeches and the formal unveiling of the embassy’s nameplate, signaling the start of its diplomatic functions in the country.
CA/ac/fss/abj/APA