Africa: Benin

Benin's President Patrice Talon triggered mass protests over elections last April from which the opposition were effectively banned. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

Benin attack stirs worries of jihadist menace

Feb 14, 2020

An attack on police in the far north of Benin has spurred fears that a country struggling with political problems is now ...

Visitors contemplate artefacts recently returned to Benin and on show at Cotonou's

Benin welcomes back 28 antique royal artefacts

Jan 18, 2020

Ambassadors from France and Japan mingled with presidential officials, royalty and schoolchildren as Benin celebrated th ...

Sacred: Priestesses in Porto-Novo give offerings to a voodoo idol. By Yanick Folly (AFP)

Spirit world: Voodoo makes a comeback in its Benin...

Jan 10, 2020

In his long life, voodoo priest Kpohinto Medji has seen his religion flourish and then go into decline, banned for years ...

Benin Authorities Arrest Journalist Ignace Sossou,...

Dec 24, 2019

Authorities in Benin should immediately release and halt efforts to intimidate journalist Ignace Sossou and drop any ...

President Macron pledged last year to hand back 26 artefacts

France to return Benin artworks by 2021: minister

Dec 16, 2019

France will return artworks taken from Benin during the colonial conquest of the region by the start of 2021, culture mi ...

Protests erupted in Benin after parliamentary elections were held in April without a single opposition candidate taking part. By Yanick Folly (AFP)

Benin orders EU envoy out for 'subversive' activit...

Nov 27, 2019

The government of Benin on Wednesday accused EU Ambassador Oliver Netten of involvement in subversive activities after ...

2019 Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa Awards L’Oré...

Nov 25, 2019

Yesterday in Dakar, as part of the 10th edition of its regional programme For Women in Science, the ...

Benin's former leader Thomas Boni Yayi (in white) 2nd L, white)after arriving in in Cotonou on Wednesday. By Yanick Folly (AFP)

Former Benin leader returns from exile amid crisis

Nov 20, 2019

Benin's former leader Thomas Boni Yayi flew home Wednesday but hopes of an immediate meeting with President Patrice Talo ...

RE: GPAN Statement On French Colonialism In Afric...

Nov 11, 2019

Global Pan Africanism Network welcomes the bold move by 8 African Countries to withdraw their CFA reserves from C ...

The opposition accuses Talon, a cotton mogul, of taking over key sectors of the economy for personal gain. By YANICK FOLLY (AFP)

Benin president launches 'dialogue' without key op...

Oct 11, 2019

Benin's President Patrice Talon on Thursday launched a political dialogue to calm tensions sparked by the opposition's ...

Benin's president has announced a national

Benin calls national 'dialogue' over political cri...

Oct 4, 2019

Benin's President Patrice Talon on Thursday announced a national dialogue with opposition parties to calm a political ...

Niger, China launch oil pipline project crossing B...

Sep 18, 2019

Niger and China are to build a 2,000-kilometre (1,250-mile) pipeline to carry crude oil from southeast Niger to the port ...

Locals said about 120 homes were bulldozed in Xwlacodji. By Yanick FOLLY (AFP)

'They fooled us': Benin bulldozes district, leavin...

Sep 12, 2019

The people watched in horror as the bulldozers moved in. Soon their meagre dwellings were reduced to rubble, becoming ...

Protesters From Two Of Benin's Unions Take Part In A Demonstration After The Parliament Approved A Law Restricting To 10 Days Public Sector Employees’ Right To Strike, On September 13, 2018, In Cotonou. Journalist Ignace Sossou Convicted Of False News In Benin On August 12, 2019. (AFP/Yanick Folly)

Journalist Ignace Sossou Convicted Of False News I...

Aug 24, 2019

New York, August 23, 2019--The government of Benin should act to decriminalize press offenses, the Committee to P ...

Former prime minister Lionel Zinsou (L), who lives in France, was found guilty of using false documents and

Benin court bans presidential rival from elections

Aug 2, 2019

A court in Benin on Friday handed a top opposition politician a suspended six-month jail term over campaign breaches and ...

The palace dates to the Kingdom of Dahomey which reached its peak in the 18th and 19th centuries before conquest by Paris in the 1890s ended its rule. By Yanick Folly (AFP)

Benin readies for return of treasures taken by Fra...

Jul 16, 2019

The display cases at the royal palaces in Benin's sleepy southern town of Abomey are coated in dust and the exhibition h ...

For more than two years, aircraft crisscrossed the skies over Benin taking high-resolution aerial photographs in the first step towards mapping the West African country which had last been done only in 1957. By Yanick Folly (AFP/File)

Benin leaps into 21st century with new national ma...

Jun 28, 2019

The last time that cartographers mapped Benin, Elvis Presley had just released Jailhouse Rock, the Soviets had launche ...