Benin: creation of an agency to assist with the return of Afro-descendants

The Beninese government announced in a cabinet meeting the establishment of a new structure dedicated to supporting Afro-descendants who wish to obtain Beninese nationality, following the adoption of Law 2024-31 of September 2, 2024 relating to the recognition of nationality for this category of beneficiaries.

The initiative aims to streamline and safeguard the nationality acquisition process, while providing a clear and enduring institutional framework for applicants.

The new agency will centralize procedures and ensure coherence and continuity of the national policy in this area.
Among its main objectives, the agency should: improve the reception and support for eligible individuals through a one-stop shop, enabling reliable guidance without encroaching on the competencies of the decision-making authorities; preserve the prerogatives of the State, notably in matters of nationality, through rigorous monitoring, in order to avoid any confusion in the distribution of roles among the various structures involved.

The Council of Ministers has, moreover, approved the agency’s statutes, thus marking the official launch of this scheme.