Benin: report of the council of ministers from July 1, 2026

The following decisions were made:

I. Regulatory measures

I-1. Harmonization of judicial act fees and establishment of electronic payment

A 2012 decree establishes the standardization of fees and defines the tariffs applicable to all judicial acts as well as those issued by the Ministry of Justice. Despite the existence of this decree, it is observed that the fees actually applied vary from one jurisdiction to another for certain acts that are nonetheless identical.

Furthermore, the current revenue management system encourages the recurring appearance of irregularities, notably cash discrepancies, deficiencies in maintaining regulatory registers, as well as cases of embezzlement of public funds.

To address this, the Council instructed the Minister of Justice and Legislation to ensure the harmonization of the fees for acts, then to establish electronic payment as the exclusive method of settlement for said acts, which have also been digitized.

I-2. Reminder of the prohibition on marketing pesticides not authorized for use in Benin

Under the regulations concerning active substances prohibited for use in agriculture, no pesticide may be circulated within the national territory unless it has received approval in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws.

However, it is observed that unauthorized pesticides are being sold on the national territory by certain merchants, disregarding public health.

This is the case of the product SNIPER 1000 EC DDVP®, which contains dichlorvos, a molecule classified by the World Health Organization in category “Acute toxicity 1b very dangerous”, but which is marketed informally and used to combat flying and crawling insects in households.

Also, the Council wishes to remind that this molecule, like others classified as “carcinogenic and very dangerous”, is prohibited from use.

In any case, it has been decided to withdraw them from the market, and the ministers concerned with the matter will take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with this decision.

Other measures

Have also been adopted:

• The decree setting the standard structure of ministries ;
• The decrees concerning the attributions, organization, and functioning of the various ministries ;
• The implementing texts of law No. 2024-28 of July 26, 2024 establishing the national orders of Benin.

II. Communications

II-1. Acquisition of equipment for various hospitals

The Government has decided to equip the reference health facilities with advanced equipment and materials, divided into several lots:

• First lot : Columns of digestive coelioscopy and laparoscopy for the benefit of:
  • National University Hospital Center Hubert Koutoukou MAGA (CNHU-HKM) ;
  • Departmental University Hospital Center of Ouémé (CHUD Ouémé) ;
  • University Hospital Center of Mother and Child (CHUMEL) ;
  • Departmental University Hospital Center of Borgou (CHUD Borgou) ;
  • Zonal University Hospital Center ofAbomey-Calavi/Sô-Ava (CHUZ/Abomey-Calavi/Sô-Ava).
• Second batch : Ophthalmology equipmentfor the benefit of: CNHU-HKM;
  • CHUD Ouémé;
  • CHUD Borgou;
  • Departmental University Hospital Center of
  • Suru-Léré (CHUZ Suru-Léré) Suru-Léré (CHUZ Suru-Léré).
• Third batch : Acquisition, installation, and commissioning of modern anatomopathology laboratory equipment for the benefit of CNHU-HKM, in order to guarantee reliable and highly accurate histological diagnoses reliable and highly accurate histological diagnoses.

These acquisitions will allow to modernize and strengthen the technical platforms with a view to better patient care.

II-2. Contracting with various providers for the implementation of the e-learning project

As a reminder, the Government had decided to integrate distance learning into Benin’s educational system in order to:

• Modernize teaching practices;
• Enrich training content;
• Guarantee every student, regardless of their geographic location, equitable access to excellent education.

This model, which will be gradually deployed at all levels of the national education system, will start from the 2026-2027 academic year with the four public universities:

• University ofAbomey-Calavi (UAC) ;
• University of Parakou (UP) ;
• National University of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (UNSTIM) ;
• National University ofAgriculture (UNA).

The Council agreed to contract with various service providers for:

• The execution of development works for dedicated lecture halls on the campuses of Abomey-Calavi, Parakou, and the Faculty of Health Sciences in Cotonou;
• The development and deployment of the national distance learning platform (etudiant.bj) ;
• Technical assistance in pedagogical quality assurance ;
• The design of the engineering sound, audiovisual, and scenographic of educational spaces and distance learning studios;
• The video projection.

II-3. Adoption of the National Policy to Combat Human Trafficking (PNLTP) in Benin 2027-2036 and its National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking (SNLTP) 2027-2031

Supporting the various laws that punish this practice, these two major documents contribute to the need to provide Benin with a clear and coherent reference framework to:

• Structure its efforts in combating human trafficking ;
• Ensure the protection of victims ;
• Strengthen preventive and repressive actions against this crime.

They allow for taking into account the multidimensional challenges that compromise the effectiveness of interventions and the sustainability of the results obtained.

The policy is driven by the vision: « By 2036, Benin will be a country where all forms of human trafficking are controlled and fundamental human rights are respected. »

Its strategic orientations focus on:

• The strengthening of tools and mechanisms for prevention and victim support ;
• The strengthening of the legal and institutional framework to combat human trafficking;
• The consolidation of governance and the revitalization of partnerships.

II-4. Authorization to reduce fees applicable to merchant spaces in urban and regional markets of the TOKPA YÔYÔ commercial hubs and the TOKPA DAHO agri-food market

The Minister of Domestic Trade reported to the Council on the application of the fees currently set in these markets. It appears that, although they are lower than what they should actually be,these fees are considered somewhat high by the merchants and operators of stalls and shops.

Taking into account the complaints expressed, the President of the Republic gave directions aimed at:

• Enhancing the financial accessibility of modern markets ;
• Promoting their optimal occupancy.

On this basis, the Council agreed to proceed with a reduction of monthly fees starting from July 2026.

To this end, the Minister of Economy and Finance is instructed toincrease state subsidies intended for the maintenance of the relevant modern commercial infrastructures.

II-5. Authorization for advancement to the twelfth step for state agents meeting eligibility conditions

The law No. 2015-18 of September 1, 2017 establishing the general status of the Civil Service reorganized the career of state civil servants into 15 steps (compared to 12 under the previous status).

As a result, access to the 12th step, which was a grade promotion (by choice and merit), is now considered a step advancement, therefore automatic. However, it was necessary to await the completion of the work of the commission responsible for drafting the complementary regulatory provisions to make the implementation of the reform effective.

As of December 31, 2025, 1,110 state agents classified at the 11th step were awaiting advancement. The Council therefore authorized advancement to the 12th step for agents who met the seniority and merit conditions to access it.

This solution has the advantage of:

• Safeguarding the interests of the agents concerned ;
• Facilitating the implementation of the automatic step advancement reform in the Integrated Human Resources and Payroll Management System (SIGRHP).

Furthermore, state agents retired and whose administrative status is not up to date will benefit from:

• A reconstruction of their career ;
• Of the revision of their retirement pension.

The ministers concerned are instructed to carry out all necessary steps for this purpose.

III. Individual measures

The following appointments have been made:

> At the Senate

In addition to ex officio members, the following are appointed to sit:

High-ranking personalities appointed by the President of the Republic who have commanded the Defense and Security Forces :

• Mr. Alassane SEIDOU ;
• Mr. Fortunet Alain NOUATIN ;
• Brigade General Intendant Robert GBIAN ;
• Air Brigade General Taffa ADAM ;
• Senior Ship Captain Albert Ezin BADOU.

High-ranking personalities appointed by the President of the Republic :

• Messrs. Ousmane BATOKO ;
• Raimi AMADOU ;
• Paul HOUNKPE ;
• Emmanuel TIANDO ;
• Under the National Assembly.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

• Adidjatou MATHYS
  • Abraham ZINZINDOHOUE ;
  • Sacca LAFIA ;
  • Charles TOKO ;
  • Charles TOKO.

Under the Economic and Social Council

Department level

Alibori

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mr. Bani MORA SARE GANDE ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mr. Aboudou ALI OROU ;
• Member appointed by the Commerce and Industry sector : Mr. Abdel Wahid BABIO ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Gentlemen Gounou DADA DEOL ;
  • Séro ZOROBOURAGUI ;
  • Mohamadou MOUSSA ;
  • Madam Fadinatou OROU SEKO ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Gentlemen Moussa Saley MOUKAÏLA ;
  • Aboubakar TIDJANI.

Atacora

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mister Sessédé Soumaïla TAMOU ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mister Yafaga Gilbert SAAGUI BAGNANGA ;
• Member appointed by the Commerce and Industry sector : Mister Raoufou ODJO RADJI ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Madam Sandrine KIANDO ;
  • Gentlemen Vincent YONIWIN ;
  • Tempa N’TCHA ;
  • Gilbert BANGANA ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Gentlemen Thomas YOMBO ;
  • Moumouni AROUNA.

Atlantic

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mr. Dossou Lazare GNONLONFOUN ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mr. Hippolyte SOHO ;
• Member appointed by the Commerce and Industry sector : Mr. Coffi Franck AKPAHOUNKA ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Gentlemen Kokou Lucien HOUNGNIBO ;
  • Valentin Aditi HOUDE ;
  • Cyprien TOGNI ;
  • Guy MITOKPE ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Mr. Epiphane HONFO ;
  • Madam Anita AHOUANDJINOU.

Borgou

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mr. Jean KPETERE ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mr. Biaou François ATCHADE ;
• Member appointed by the Commerce and Industry sector : Mr. Kamilou AROUNA ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Messrs. Tidjani Bucca BANI CHABI ;
  • Issaou BABIO ;
  • Bio SOUNON BOKO ;
  • SANNI Bio Kouri ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Mr. Gaston YOLOU ;
  • Mrs. Mariétou TAMBA.

Collines

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mr. Yénakpon Denis TOGNISSOU ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mr. Rachidou MAMA ;
• Member appointed by the Trade and Industry sector : Mrs. Gnitonyi Lucrèce Flore BEHANZIN née BIAOU ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Messrs. Valère Dèhouégnon TCHOBO ;
  • Marcellin Worou AKA ;
  • Serge ODOUNBOUROU ;
  • Gilles HOUNDOLO ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Mrs. Eugenie ROBA ;
  • Mr. Claude ANIGNIKIN.

Couffo

• Member appointed by the Agricultural sector : Mr. Houénoumadji ADO ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mr. Heindewohe Erich OGOUMOLA ;
• Member appointed by the Trade and Industry sector : Mister Christophe TOZO ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Gentlemen Borgia Santos Tawès N’BOUKE ;
  • Célestin GUIDIMEY ;
  • Grégoire TOHONDO ;
  • François GBODO ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Mister Etienne TOGNIGBAN ;
  • Madam Séverine SOGNON.

Donga

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mister Karim Soulé OROU YARGNON ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mister Moutawakilou IBRAHIMA ;
• Member appointed by the Commerce and Industry sector : Mister Issa ASSOUMA ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Gentlemen Tidjani AFFO OBO ;
  • Daouda TAKPARA ;
  • Salissou IDRISSOU MOHAMED ;
  • Dramane OUOLOU ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Madam Safiatou BASSABI ISSIFOU MOROU ;
  • Sir Abishaï AKPALLA.

Littoral

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Sir Lucien Oscar AMADJI ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Sir Oyébadé Jean-Séraphin FADEI ;
• Member appointed by the Commerce and Industry sector : Sir Casimir MIGAN ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Madam Waliath WABI ;
  • Gentlemen Florentin CHAOU ;
  • Joseph Josoué MEHOU TOLIDJI ;
  • Yves Patrick DJIVOH ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Gentlemen Isidore GNONLONFOUN ;
  • Djiffa Cariel Céphas TOUNDE.

Mono

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mr. Athanase AGUIYA ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mr. Jean MAZIAGNIN ;
• Member appointed by the Commerce and Industry sector : Mr. Coffi Jacques TOKOGNON ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Gentlemen Euric GUIDI ;
  • Christophe AGBODJI ;
  • Felix ALOWANOU ;
  • Félix AKPLAKOU ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Madam Monique YENOUSSI ;
  • Sir Geoffroy Kouessi AKOSSOU.

Ouémé

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mr. Jean LOUKPEDJA ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mr. Alfred Akintundé ISHOLA ;
• Member appointed by the Commerce and Industry sector : Mr. Alfred Dédji HOUNDEGLA ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Messrs. Emmanuel ZOSSOU ;
  • Isidore ZINSOU ;
  • Célestin HOUNSOU ;
  • Madam Sofia ONIFADE ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Messrs. Léon BOCOVE ;
  • Omer AVALLA.

Plateau

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mr. Olagoké Arouna LAWANI ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mr. Siakou AMOUSSA ;
• Member appointed by the Trade and Industry sector : Mrs. Nancy Florencia ZINSOU ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Ladies and Gentlemen Eniola Awaou BISSIRIOU ;
  • Titilaye ADJAÏ ;
  • Adéniran Alain GBOTCHE ;
  • Marcellin FAGBOHOUN ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Mrs. Ablawa Lucie SESSINOU ;
  • Mr. Akim ODOUBI.

Zou

• Member appointed by the agricultural sector : Mr. Expédit SONOUNAMETO ;
• Member appointed by the Craft sector : Mr. Nicaise Mesmin DEGNON ;
• Member appointed by the Commerce and Industry sector : Mr. Marcellin ASSOGBA TONON ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Messrs. Sanni MAMA ;
  • Léopold DJODJO ;
  • Dominique ATCHAWE ;
  • Lambert AGONGBONON ;
• Members appointed by the President of the Republic :
  • Messrs. Zéphyrin KINDJANHOUNDE ;
  • Gustave SONON.

At the national level

• Member appointed by the President of the Republic : Mr. Abdoulaye BIO TCHANE ;
• Members appointed by the National Assembly :
  • Messrs. Razack AMOUDA ISSIFOU ;
  • Conrad GBAGUIDI ;
  • Pascal ESSOU.

On behalf of the Employers’ Association

• Mr. Eustache KOTINGAN.

On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin

• Mr. Arnauld AKAKPO.

On behalf of the National Chamber of Agriculture

• Mr. Hermann Imali DJETTA.

On behalf of the Chamber of Trades

• Mr. Soufiyanou IMOROU.

Personality from the Arts and Culture sector

• Mr. Stanislas DEGBO.

> At the Presidency of the Republic

• President of the Electricity Regulatory Authority : Mr. Émeric TOKOUDAGBA ;
• Members of the Standing Committee of the Law Reform Commission :
  • President : Mr. Noël GBAGUIDI ;
  • Vice-President : Mr. Djidjouè GBOYOU ;
  • Rapporteur : Mr. Igor GUEDEGBE.

> At the Ministry of Justice and Legislation

• Members of the Personal Data Protection Authority :
  • On behalf of the President of the Republic : Mr. Luciano HOUNKPONOU.

> At the Ministry of Economy and Finance

• Chief of Staff : Mr. Alastaire ALINSATO ;
• Secretary General of the Ministry : Mr. Cheigun Morayo Habib TIDJANI ;
• National Director of Control : Mr. Aristide Aboyi EDAH SOHOU.

> At the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security

• Technical Advisor for Monitoring Traditional Leadership : Mr. Paul AKOGNI.

> At the Ministry of Health

• Executive Secretary of the National Council for the Fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Epidemics (CNLSTP) : Mr. Marius HOUDE.

> At the Ministry of Secondary Education

• Director of Examinations and Competitions : Mr. Fulbert Kuessi ALLOGNISSODE.

> At the Ministry of Energy, Water and Mines

• Director General of the Beninese Electricity Production Company : Mr. Laurent TOSSOU.

> At the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage

• Director General of Infrastructure Development and Heritage Works : Mrs. Joan DESSAINT FOMI.

> At the Ministry of Living Environment and Transport

• Chief of Staff : Mr. Valéry Kouandété DOKO ;
• Director General of the Benin Single Window Operation Company (SEGUB) : Mr. Kady FALADE.

> At the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Employment Promotion, in charge of Vocational Training

• Director General of the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises : Mrs. Alvyne ALIA.

> At the Ministry in charge of External Resource Mobilization and Debt Management

• Director General of the Autonomous Debt Management Fund : Mrs. Sarah KPENOU.

> At the Ministry of Justice and Legislation

• On behalf of the National Assembly :
  • Ladies and Gentlemen:
    • Denise DEGBEDJI ;
    • Maixent DJEIGO ;
    • Mama SALIFOU ;
    • Crépin DODO ;
    • Axel Mathieu FOADEY ;
• On behalf of the Bar Association :
  • Sir Friggens AJAVON ;
• On behalf of the magistrates :
  • Sir Blaise Gilbert Isaac KISSEZOUNON.

Done in Cotonou, July 1, 2026

Director General of the Government, GAKPETOR House.