Luc Gnacadja takes the lead of the National Association of Municipalities of Benin.

Luc Gnacadja expands his field of responsibilities in local governance in Benin. Already the mayor of Cotonou, he now takes the lead of the National Association of Municipalities of Benin, an organization responsible for representing and defending the common interests of local authorities.

His arrival at the head of the ANCB comes after the renewal of municipal councils for the 2026-2033 term. The 77 municipalities have new executives resulting from the communal elections in January, with Luc Gnacadja himself being inaugurated in Cotonou on February 15, 2026.

He succeeded Luc Atrokpo as mayor of the economic capital after the latter’s election to the National Assembly. With a background in architecture and a former Minister of Environment, Housing, and Urbanism, Luc Gnacadja also led the executive secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification from 2007 to 2013.

A New Step for the Federation of the 77 Municipalities

The ANCB constitutes one of the main frameworks for consultation among local elected officials in Benin. It intervenes in advocacy with the state, decentralized cooperation, capacity building for municipalities, and the implementation of projects related to local governance, climate, nutrition, and territorial development.

Luc Sètondji Atrokpo had directed the association since 2015. He was re-elected in December 2020 for a six-year term at the head of a national office of 15 members.

The assumption of office by Luc Gnacadja thus marks the end of this long presidency and opens a new chapter for the organization as the Beninese municipalities embark on a new seven-year cycle.

The new president already has visibility in international networks of local authorities. He is notably the vice-president of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), where he advocates for international cooperation more focused on the needs of territories, particularly in climate, mobility, digital technology, social inclusion, and youth employment.

His new mandate at the ANCB is expected to place him at the center of discussions among the 77 municipalities, the government, and technical and financial partners on issues of local funding, infrastructure, decentralization, and the provision of local public services.

The ANCB is also represented on the board of directors of the Municipal Investment Fund by Luc Gnacadja and the mayor of Ouidah, Christian Houétchénou. This fund is intended to provide municipalities with financial and technical assistance as well as suitable instruments for financing local development.