Benin

The High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication, Benin's media regulatory authority, suspended two newspapers and four websites at the end of January, for alleged unauthorised publication and non-compliance

In the southern village of Gogotinkpon, which makes its living from fishing in Lake Aheme, voodoo is used to ask deities to help demarcate tracts of mangroves as sacred areas; the tradition highlights the importance of mangrove forests in the region

A new attack attributed to jihadist groups in the north, near the border with Niger and Burkina Faso, resulted in the death of 28 soldiers; attacks have increased in the area in recent years, with 121 soldiers killed from 2021 to the end of 2024

Pan-African activist and leader Kémi Séba has announced his candidature for presidential elections scheduled for April 2026; electoral code requires candidates to be sponsored by at least 28 elected officials, such as mayors or members of parliament

The country intends to sell up to 40% of its stake in Banque Internationale pour l'Industrie et le Commerce through an initial public offering to finance various development projects, aiming to raise $192,3 million offering up to 23,1 million shares

The €1 million project 'Growing Benin's Organic Cotton Sector', dedicated to helping small cotton farmers switch to organic cotton cultivation, will enter phase II after increasing earnings and sustainability

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, media reminded that in Cotonou a special centre provides support for children living with HIV, often contracted because only one in two infected pregnant women can access care to avoid parental transmission

Minimum conditions that Afro-descendants applying for citizenship must have, published in a July law, have now been implemented by decree: 'persons of African descent deported in the slave trade and triangular trade' can apply for Beninese naturalisation

International exhibition Dig Where You Stand – From Coast to Coast, Benin edition, will be open until 1 December; presented in various coastal African cities, the project addresses themes as decolonization, restitution, repatriation in a site-specific way

The country is home to an active judo federation that has 30 clubs and 1.200 judokas; the President of Benin Judo Federation and the Secretary General are committed to finding solutions to increase the number of women in the sport, which still remains low

Benin has joined six other African countries contributing to the African Development Fund, pledging USD 2 million; an estimated 74 million people have benefited from the fund through improved agriculture

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, held annually in October, doctors emphasised the "very important" role that religious leaders could play in "demystifying breast cancer"

The Republic of Benin and Togo owe Nigeria $5,79m for energy consumed in the second quarter of 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission said