Why Cotonou Airport is changing its name: the government’s explanation
In the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, December 3, the Beninese government changed the name of Cotonou airport, now called “Aéroport Bernardin GANTIN”.
SUMMARY
Questioned on Friday, December 5, 2025, the government spokesperson, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, detailed the reasons for this change, drawing on toponymic logic, international practices and practical considerations related to aviation operations.
According to Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, in modern toponymy titles and ranks are not integrated into the names of public infrastructures. The aim, he explains, is to honor the person, not their rank.
He cited several reference airports as examples:
– Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar
– Charles-de-Gaulle in Paris
In the same way, Cotonou airport preserves the memory of the prelate, while adopting a form that conforms to international standards.
“The Cardinal will always be our Cardinal,” the spokesperson insisted, adding that there is no intention of diminishing Bernardin Gantin’s stature.
A practical necessity
The other, more down-to-earth argument, he continued, is that the former name was too long and awkward to handle, especially in aeronautical communications, where clarity and concision are essential.
The mention of the “Cadjèhoun” neighborhood, which means little internationally, had lost relevance. The “de Cotonou” version provides immediate and universally recognizable identification.
The change would only be the beginning.
The spokesperson revealed that the toponymy commission continues its work and could propose other adjustments.
He even hinted at possible changes: “We’ll have Mathieu Kérékou Stadium, simply, rather than General Mathieu Kérékou.”
An approach that aims to honor, not erase
Despite the concerns of some, the executive assures that this reform aims to better position the nation’s leading figures in the public space, avoiding names that are too technical or heavy.
It’s an approach described as “objective” and “scientific,” aligned with practices observed elsewhere.
In the background, the government seeks to standardize the nomenclature of public infrastructure while offering greater clarity internationally.
This reform opens a broader reflection on the coherence of names given to public places and on how to honor the personalities who mark the country’s history
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