DIPLOMACY
Diplomacy in Benin, Africa, and around the world: News, information, exclusives, everything you need to know about Benin's, Togo's, Niger's, Burkina Faso's, Côte d'Ivoire's, Mali's, Senegal's, Congo's, Madagascar's, and Chad's diplomatic relations.
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Turkey: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu stumbles during an official ceremony (video)
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu briefly stumbled during an official ceremony in Turkey this Tuesday, before resuming the course of his state visit without incident. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the subject of a minor incident on Tuesday during the… -
Donald Trump: “I won’t use force to acquire Greenland”
From the Davos forum, the U.S. President Donald Trump said he did not envisage any military action to take control of Greenland, while recalling the United States’ major strategic interest in this Danish autonomous territory. The U.S. President Donald Trump… -
Benin–India: Olushegun Bakari receives the new ambassador’s letters of credence
Relations between Benin and India are taking a new step forward. Appointed in October 2025, His Excellency Abhishek Singh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Republic of Benin, officially began his mission on Wednesday, January… -
In Burkina Faso, will Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba be extradited soon? Ibrahim Traoré responds.
The question of the extradition of former Burkinabe president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba is resurfacing in the public debate. Following another attempt to destabilize attributed to the former head of state, the current president of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, spoke… -
Donald Trump reaffirms his desire to acquire Greenland
This statement comes a few days before his planned speech in the state of New Hampshire, where he intends to detail his geopolitical vision further.In a recent post, Trump emphasized that Greenland, which is administratively dependent on Denmark, represents a… -
United States: former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta arrested by immigration services.
The former Ghanaian Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, aged 66, was detained by the U.S. immigration authorities on January 7, 2026, while he was on U.S. soil, his lawyers and several international media outlets confirmed. Ken Ofori-Atta, who led Ghana’s… -
Trump announces the United States’ withdrawal from 66 international organizations
U.S. President Donald Trump signed, on January 7, 2026, a presidential decree ordering the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations, many of which are affiliated with the United Nations and multilateral institutions. This decision, taken in the name… -
The United States and South Africa agree on the Afrikaners’ welcome program.
Washington and Pretoria have reached a discreet compromise to continue pursuing a controversial U.S. program to admit South African Afrikaners as refugees, despite persistent disagreements between the two capitals. The agreement rests on a series of diplomatic exchanges held in… -
Visa: The United States expands its restrictions to five new African countries.
The U.S. authorities have expanded, since January 1, 2026, their restrictive measures against several African countries as part of their immigration policy. Among the newly targeted nations are the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Botswana, according to official… -
Cooperation: Chad opens its embassy in Cotonou
Chad is strengthening its diplomatic presence in West Africa with the official opening of its embassy in Benin. Located in the Haie-Vive district in Cotonou, the new mission also covers Togo, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast, thereby expanding Chad’s diplomatic… -
Venezuela: Switzerland freezes Nicolás Maduro’s assets after his arrest
Bern announced the immediate freezing of all assets held in Switzerland linked to former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and to his close associates, following his arrest and transfer to the United States for trial there. The Swiss government announced, on… -
Benin–Niger: the crisis is taking on a new dimension
The already fragile relations between Niger and Benin enter a new episode of tension. The mutual expulsions of diplomatic staff, followed by the announcement of the suspension of activities at the Benin Embassy in Niamey, signal a diplomatic escalation against… -
Airspace violation: Nigeria issues an official apology to Burkina Faso
Nigeria officially apologized to Burkina Faso following the violation of Burkinabè airspace by a Nigerian aircraft. This diplomatic step was conducted at the highest level by the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Youssouf Maitama Tuggar, who was received in audience… -
Algeria: moving to criminalize French colonialism with a national law
The Algerian Parliament is preparing to examine a historic bill aiming to criminalize French colonialism. This text, scheduled to be debated in plenary session on 20, 21 and 24 December 2025, seeks to legally qualify the crimes committed during the… -
ECOWAS: a counterterrorism brigade operational by the end of 2026
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announces the establishment of a regional counterterrorism brigade that is expected to be fully operational before the end of 2026. This decision aims to strengthen the region’s collective capacity to address the… -
Failed coup attempt: Talon receives Nigerian military at the Marina Palace
President Patrice Talon held an audience on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, with the delegation of Nigerian military personnel deployed to Benin following the December 7 coup attempt. This meeting at the Palais de la Marina expresses the Nation’s official gratitude… -
In China, Macron urges preserving transatlantic unity against Russia
On an official visit to China, Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed the need to maintain transatlantic unity and to relentlessly continue support for Ukraine. The head of state called for continuing to put pressure on Moscow while pursuing diplomatic efforts aimed at… -
Soybean grain: the government kicks off the 2025–2026 campaign and confirms free pricing
The Beninese government has set the marketing framework for soybean grain for the 2025–2026 season. According to the ministers in charge of Industry and Commerce and of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the season officially opens on Friday, December 5, 2025,… -
Diplomacy: a French parliamentary delegation is staying in Benin
A French parliamentary delegation, led by Christian Baptiste, deputy for Guadeloupe and president of the France–Benin friendship group at the National Assembly, was received on Tuesday, 2 December 2025 by Louis Gbèhounou Vlavonou, president of the Beninese Parliament. This visit… -
Diplomacy: meeting between Diomaye Faye and Mariam Chabi Talata in Dakar
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye received Mariam Chabi Talata Zimé Yarou on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The Vice‑President of Benin, also Grand Chancellor of the national orders and president of the Conference of Francophone Chancellors, was on a mission in… -
Shegun Bakari represents Benin at the 7th AU-EU summit in Luanda
Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shegun Bakari, is staying in Luanda where he is taking part in the 7th joint summit between the African Union and the European Union. Benin’s top diplomat is leading the national delegation to this high-level… -
Summit in Algeria on colonialism: toward historic reparations in Africa
Algeria is preparing to host a major international conference on crimes of colonialism in Africa from 30 November to 1 December 2025. Held in Algiers, the event will bring together ministers, jurists, historians, academics and experts to discuss historical injustices… -
Benin’s 2026 presidential election: the MPL officially backs the Wadagni–Talata ticket
Le Mouvement Populaire de Libération a franchi un nouveau cap politique à l’issue de son conseil national tenu le samedi 15 novembre 2025 à Abomey-Calavi. À l’issue de ce conseil, le parti a annoncé son engagement officiel en faveur du… -
Diplomacy: Olushegun Bakari meets with Cardinal Parolin on a visit to Benin
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, arrived in Cotonou on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Sent as a special envoy of Pope Leo XIV, he was welcomed at the airport by the foreign minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, for a… -
Benin-FIDA cooperation: Olushegun Bakari receives Claudia Savarese’s letters of appointment
The Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, received on Monday, November 10, 2025 the letters of credence of Claudia Savarese, the new representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Benin. The discussions focused on strengthening… -
Niger–Benin: President Abdourahamane Tiani confirms the border will remain closed
At a rally in Gaya, in the Dosso region, on Saturday, November 8, 2025, the President of the Republic of Niger, Abdourahamane Tiani, announced that the land border with the Republic of Benin would remain closed “as long as the… -
Qatar World Summit: Véronique Tognifodé highlights Benin’s social governance
The Minister of Social Affairs and Microfinance, Véronique Tognifodé, represented Benin from 4 to 6 November 2025 in Doha (Qatar) at the 2nd World Summit on Social Development, organized under the aegis of the United Nations. During a plenary session… -
Diplomacy: the United Kingdom appoints a new ambassador accredited to Benin
The United Kingdom now has a new ambassador accredited to Benin. He is Robert John Marshall, a career diplomat whose official residence is in Abidjan. On Friday, October 31, 2025, he presented the copies of his letters of credence to… -
France-Algeria: Paris proposes restarting talks despite tensions
France announced on Sunday, October 19, 2025, its intention to reopen a dialogue with Algeria, while relations between the two countries have remained frozen for over a year. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stressed that the lack of security cooperation… -
2025 presidential election in Ivory Coast: the Beninese consulate in Abidjan urges its nationals to be cautious
With less than two weeks until the presidential election on October 25, 2025, the political climate is heating up in Côte d’Ivoire. In this tense context, the Honorary Consulate of Benin in Abidjan published, on Sunday October 12, a communiqué…