NEWS
Breaking national and international news. This section keeps you updated on major events shaping the world, in real time.
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Niger: record seizure of more than ten million benzhexol tablets in Konni
A large anti-drug operation conducted by the Konni branch of the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS) in the Tahoua region (Niger) resulted in the seizure of an extraordinary shipment of narcotics and the arrest of… -
Abomey: a teenager arrested after a knife attack.
In Abomey, in the Zou Department, security forces arrested a young man under twenty, suspected of violently assaulting the manager of a mobile phone service center. The events allegedly occurred when the suspect went into the booth to buy airtime.… -
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… -
Niger: a prefect and members of his family killed during an attack in Torodi
Niger has once again been plunged into mourning by an attack attributed to jihadist groups. During the night of January 4–5, 2026, the Torodi prefect, Captain Chaïbou Mali, was assassinated at his home, along with several members of his family.… -
Benin: CENA’s former headquarters completely demolished
The space formerly occupied by the headquarters of the National Autonomous Electoral Commission, located opposite the Directorate for the Organization of Army Personnel in Ganhi, is now entirely cleared. On site, the buildings have been demolished, leaving rubble behind—a finding… -
University scholarships: the process is now fully online.
Students enrolled in public higher education in Benin are now required to submit their scholarship applications exclusively online. The system, fully digital, is accessible via the official platform of the Ministry of Higher Education.To begin the process, each applicant must… -
Dantokpa: the announced relocation is slow to get underway.
Presented as the culmination of a long consultation process, the redeployment of merchants from the Dantokpa Market to new modern sites was scheduled for the period from January 5 to 15, 2026. This schedule, set by the National Agency for… -
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… -
Benin – BEPC 2026: the submission of applications is open until February 2.
The registration campaign for the Brevet d’Études du Premier Cycle (BEPC) examination, June 2026 session, has officially been launched across the entire national territory. The information was made public by the Minister of Secondary, Technical Education and Vocational Training, Véronique… -
Benin: Three alleged motorcycle thieves arrested in Kassouala
The Republican Police arrested three individuals suspected of motorcycle theft in the town of Kassouala. The operation is part of the security forces’ increased efforts to tackle insecurity linked to the theft of movable property in the region. According to… -
Benin returns to the ranks of oil-producing countries: initial timetable fails.
The prospect of Benin rejoining the ranks of oil-producing countries, initially announced for 2025, is experiencing technical delays that push back the planned schedule. According to Ecofin Agency, the project is moving forward, but at a slower pace than expected.… -
Benin: Djibril Mama Cissé makes an unannounced visit to the security forces in Kalalé.
On Thursday, January 1, 2026, the day of the New Year celebration, the Prefect of Borgou, Djibril Mama Cissé, carried out an unannounced visit to the Defence and Security Forces deployed at the Kalalé Advanced Operational Base. He was accompanied… -
Benin: A fire has caused extensive damage to a bar at Togbin Beach.
A sudden scare swept through Togbin Beach on Saturday afternoon, January 3, 2026. Around 5 p.m., a fire broke out in a busy bar in this neighborhood, located in the Godomey arrondissement, in the Abomey-Calavi commune, causing panic among customers… -
Benin: Borgou Departmental Director of the Republican Police relieved of his duties.
The Ministry of the Interior and Public Security announced the replacement of the Borgou Departmental Director of the Republican Police, following a large-scale police operation conducted in Parakou and described as a botched operation. In an official statement, the ministry,… -
Benin: more than 400 people arrested, 90 motorcycles and 400 phones seized during the show
In the night of Friday, January 2, 2026, in Parakou, the Departmental Directorate of the Republican Police (DDPR) of Borgou put an end to an unauthorized show named “The War of the Clans”. It was an event marked by the… -
Kindergarten and Primary Education: AMEs Recruitment Test Results
The results of the recruitment test for aspirants to the primary school teaching profession are now available. The assessment, held on Saturday, December 13, 2025 nationwide, marks a decisive step in the process of strengthening the teaching workforce in Benin.… -
Ouassà-Péhunco: 426 kg of counterfeit medicines seized by the police
The Republican Police conducted, in the locality of Ouassà-Péhunco, the seizure of a large quantity of falsified and prohibited medicines, a security source said on Tuesday. In total, 426 kilograms of counterfeit pharmaceutical products were taken off the market during… -
Benin: a landlord has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for biting his tenant
A landlord was brought before the Abomey court on Monday, December 29, 2025, for biting his tenant. Charged with voluntary assault and battery, the landlord was sentenced to a prison term accompanied by a fine. The Abomey court, on Monday,… -
“May Benin remain a land of peace,” Apostle Félicien Holachi’s appeal
On Tuesday, December 31, 2025, the eve of the New Year 2026, in Cotonou, Apostle Félicien Holachi, President of the Church of Pentecost, presented the state of the Church for the year 2025, in a national context marked by security… -
Benin: January 8 and 9, 2026 declared public holidays.
The Beninese government has announced that January 8 and 9, 2026 will be public holidays, days off, and paid across the entire country. This decision, made public by an official statement, is part of the national celebration of traditional or… -
Gabon: A new government sworn in to boost efficiency (list)
The President of the Transition in Gabon, Brice Oligui Nguema, has formed a government of 31 ministers, Gabonese authorities announced. This announcement comes a few months after the presidential election and is part of the reshaping of the executive during… -
Firecrackers banned in Benin: the Republican Police call for celebrations that are orderly and free from confusion or excess.
On the eve of the year-end festivities in Benin, the Republican Police reiterated the strict ban on the use of firecrackers, relying on Decree No. 2022-301 of May 25, 2022, relating to the regulation of noise nuisances. According to its… -
Congo‑Brazzaville: Denis Sassou Nguesso a candidate for the 2026 presidential election
The Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso has formalized his candidacy for the presidential election. Having been in power for more than four decades, Denis Sassou Nguesso intends to seek another term, after having already served several terms since the 1970s.… -
CRIET: a man charged for filming his naked neighbor
A man has been remanded in provisional detention by the Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism (CRIET) after filming his naked neighbor and distributing the video on social media. Before the CRIET, the victim is seeking 20… -
Everyone predicts Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s victory in the CAR presidential election.
December 28 is a historic day for the Central African Republic (CAR). The quadruple poll took place for the first time in years. Nevertheless, what draws the most attention are undoubtedly the presidential elections. According to the preliminary results published… -
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… -
After Venezuela, does AES have any reason to worry about facing Trump?
The American military intervention in Venezuela, aimed at “capturing” President Nicolás Maduro, has revived many questions well beyond Latin America. In West Africa, and more specifically in the space of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), this episode fuels a… -
In Benin, around 1.25 trillion invested in culture and tourism over 10 years.
Benin has chosen to place culture and tourism at the heart of its strategy for economic development. On the occasion of Vodun Days, held from January 8 to 10 in Ouidah, the government reaffirmed this orientation through statements by the… -
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… -
Tackling noise pollution: more than a ton of firecrackers seized in Benin
The Benin authorities have stepped up the fight against noise pollution as the year comes to a close. As part of a broad operation led by the Republican Police and the competent authorities, more than a tonne of firecrackers and…