NEWS
Breaking national and international news. This section keeps you updated on major events shaping the world, in real time.
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Benin: two years in prison sought against Schadrac Houngnibo for disseminating false information
The special public prosecutor at the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism requested, on Monday, February 22, 2026, two years’ imprisonment and a fine of one million CFA francs against Schadrac Watowédé Houngnibo, national coordinator of the… -
Benin: a night-time burglary ends in tragedy in Savalou, a woman and her son killed.
Two people died in a burglary that turned into a tragedy in a locality of the Djalloukou district, Savalou municipality, on the night of Sunday, February 22 to Monday, February 23. The incident occurred around one o’clock in the morning,… -
Benin: Celtiis opens a new digital era with Play Pass
Celtiis and Semoa launched this Thursday at the headquarters of the mobile operator in Cotonou the Play Pass mini-app, integrated into the super-app WAA. The partnership aims to democratize access to major digital entertainment platforms in Benin, without a bank… -
Benin: Benjamin Hounkpatin officially takes the helm of the MESRS
The Benin Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is undergoing a leadership change. The incumbent minister for several years, Éléonore Yayi Ladékan, stepped down from her ministerial duties after being elected as a deputy following the legislative elections of… -
Death of a child in a clinic in Abomey-Calavi: parents demand 50 million CFA francs
A case of presumed death due to medical negligence is currently being examined by the courts in Abomey-Calavi. The parents of a child who died in a private clinic have brought the matter before the competent courts and are seeking… -
Benin: outgoing mayors temporarily keep their official vehicles
As part of the transition between the old and new municipal administrations, mayors who were not reappointed following the latest local elections have been authorized to keep, on a provisional basis, their official vehicles. The measure aims to guarantee a… -
Benin: four police officers involved in a deal, two jailed and two on the run
Four officers from the Akassato police station, under the Republican Police, are at the center of a corruption case making headlines. Two of them have been placed in pretrial detention while two others are currently on the run and actively… -
Benin: Two Togolese apprentice drivers arrested with 55 kg of cannabis and 2,500 rounds
A major border-control operation conducted at the Benin-Togo border, near Prèkètè (Bassila), led to the arrest of two apprentice drivers of Togolese nationality. These two apprentices were arrested in possession of a significant quantity of cannabis and ammunition. According to… -
Benin: a snack bar devastated by a fierce fire in Parakou
A violent fire ravaged, on the evening of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, a refreshment stall at the Hubert Maga crossroads in the 1st arrondissement of Parakou. The incident, according to Fraternité, caused substantial material damage, with no casualties.According to the… -
Benin: BR leaders tighten sanctions against Bertin Koovi
Le Bertin Koovi has been suspended for a period of one year from all activities of the Bloc Républicain, a decision taken within the framework of an internal disciplinary procedure of the political party. This sanction has been effective since… -
CRIET: he uses the phone of a deceased person for cybercrime and faces up to seven years in prison
Detained in preventive detention for several weeks, a man in his thirties appeared on Monday, February 16, 2026 before the Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism. He is charged with online fraud in a case with particularly… -
Office construction for the DGI: green light for a technical inspection mission
As part of the project to construct new offices for the services of the General Directorate of Taxes, whose execution has already been authorized by the Council of Ministers, the Government has approved engaging a technical control office from the… -
Benin: creation of a national agency dedicated to fighting malaria and mosquitoes
Despite the efforts made in recent years, malaria remains endemic in Benin, with substantial health, social and economic repercussions. It remains among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, disproportionately affecting children under five and pregnant women. In response to… -
Benin: the ARMP cracks down hard on fraud in public procurement
Through a series of decisions at the start of 2026, the Public Markets Regulatory Authority (ARMP) sanctioned several companies and their leaders for producing falsified documents in the context of public tenders. According to information from Lamarinabj, ARMP investigations revealed… -
In Porto-Novo, a stolen PCX motorcycle resurfaces in traffic: the dealer is jailed
A peculiar case of alleged motorcycle theft was heard on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the Porto-Novo Court of First Instance. At the heart of the case is a PCX-brand motorcycle identified by its owner while it was circulating freely… -
AU Peace and Security Council: the European Union welcomes Benin’s commitment
The European Union ambassador to Benin, Stéphane Mund, extended his warm congratulations to the country following its election to the African Union’s Peace and Security Council. For the European diplomat, this designation underscores Benin’s steadfast commitment to peace, stability, and… -
Reshuffle at the Bopa Municipal Council: Célestin Gando of PAM was replaced 48 hours after his designation
At the Bopa town hall, a rapid administrative adjustment occurred on Monday, February 16, 2026, leading to the replacement of Célestin Gando with Désiré Gbesso in the post of first deputy mayor. This decision follows an official correction related to… -
Benin: A retired officer of the French Army is being prosecuted before the CRIET in a case of forged documents
In Benin, a retired officer of the French army is being prosecuted before the Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorism Offenses in a case of alleged false attestations. The defendant appeared on Monday, February 16, 2026, before the… -
Robbery foiled in Bantè: three motorbikes and a weapon abandoned by the criminals
The Republican Police foiled, on Friday, February 13, 2026, an attempted robbery in Bantè, causing the criminals to abandon three motorcycles and a firearm. According to the initial findings of the investigation reported by Le Matinal, the authorities were in… -
Benin: Bertin Koovi suspended and disqualified until 2029 by the BR.
The Bloc Républicain (BR) has decided to maintain the suspension of one of its influential militants, Bertin Koovi, following a publication deemed contrary to the party’s internal rules. The decision, ratified on February 7, 2026 by the National Executive Board,… -
The Vatican lists two ‘ethical’ ETFs on the stock exchange.
The Holy See has taken an unprecedented step by launching two ETFs aligned with the Church’s social doctrine, blending moral requirements with financial ambitions in international markets. The Holy See has reached an unprecedented milestone in the financial markets. The… -
Benin: End of secret ballots for municipal commissions, a partisan lock-in approved.
The regulatory framework for municipal councils has just undergone a major shift. By Decree No. 2026-028, the Head of State, Patrice Talon, amended Article 45 of the 2022 decree relating to the organization of permanent commissions. The reform ends the… -
University scholarships in Benin: application deadline extended
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has announced the extension of the online application process for university scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. Initially scheduled to end on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at midnight, the submission of applications… -
Decentralization: The Ouinhi municipality has a new mayor
The commune of Ouinhi now has its new municipal executive. At the conclusion of the installation session of the municipal council, Zannou Bernard was elected mayor of the commune. He will be assisted in his duties by Fatondé François, elected… -
Benin: a student prosecuted before the CRIET for having impersonated a police commissioner online
A student pursuing studies in political science and international relations appeared, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, before the correctional chamber of the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism. In his early twenties, he is being prosecuted for… -
Benin: Atacora’s departmental director of the civil service suspended
The Atacora Departmental Director of the Civil Service has been suspended from his duties. To date, no official details have been provided regarding the grounds for this administrative decision. The person concerned has been instructed to organize a handover of… -
Electricity in Benin: the government attributes recent outages to regional technical constraints
Benin now has electric power generation capacity deemed sufficient to cover a significant portion of its needs, thanks to recently commissioned infrastructure. It is on this basis that Minister Counselor Janvier Yahouedehou relied to explain the disruptions observed in the… -
Road safety in Benin: the CNSR launches the national campaign “Take action to move toward zero road deaths”
The National Road Safety Center (CNSR) officially launched a new national awareness campaign aimed at dramatically reducing the number of victims on Benin’s roads. The initiative, titled “Acting to Move Toward Zero Road Deaths,” was presented as part of the… -
Corruption in Africa: Benin ranks higher than Ivory Coast and Nigeria in the CPI 2025
Benin stands out across Africa in the 2025 edition of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), published recently by the international organization Transparency International. Cet indice, référence mondiale pour mesurer la perception de la corruption dans le secteur public, classe 182… -
South-South Cooperation: CENA hosts a Senegalese delegation for an exchange of experiences
The Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) of Benin received, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, a delegation from Senegal’s Directorate General of Elections (DGE) as part of a working visit focused on sharing experiences and strengthening institutional cooperation. The Senegalese mission,…
