Africa Benin 54 soldiers were reportedly killed in the terrorist attack in northern Benin on 17 April; Beninese government spokesman Houngbedji denied rumors of over a hundred deaths spread on social networks, according to Benin's official media La Nation
Africa Benin A massive, door-to-door information campaign to fight onchocerciasis - the disease also known as river blindness - has been launched in Benin; the parasitic infection is caused by the roundworm Onchocerca volvulus, with damages compromising eyesight
Africa Benin The Republic of Benin, together with Togo, owe Nigeria $8.84 million for electricity consumption in the fourth quarter of 2024 according to data disclosed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission
Africa Benin The diocese of Abomey, in southern Benin, is the only one to appoint women as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, seeking to break away from traditional gender exclusions
Africa Benin The fall armyworm has devastated thousands of hectares of maize in Benin; to detect the insects early enough to manage them, farmers have been turning to technology based on remote-sensing methods
Africa Benin On 10 and 12 February 2025, the International Board of Auditors for NATO welcomed to Brussels a delegation from the Benin Chamber of Accounts: talks focused on the external audit practices in use at NATO, with a view to promoting a broader understanding
Africa 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
Africa Benin 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
Africa Benin 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
Africa Benin 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
Africa Benin 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
Africa Benin 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
Africa Benin 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