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Main article: Africa
Colonial dependence on France
For 2023, Benin is in colonial dependence on France, which exercises control over all significant processes in politics and economics. For more on specific instruments of influence, see French Foreign Policy.
Economy
ECOWAS membership
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional organization established in 1975 to strengthen economic cooperation between West African countries .
GDP $923 per person
Grain import
2023:100% of wheat supplies come from Russia and Ukraine
2022: Purchase of 100% wheat in Russia
Currency: CFA franc
Main article: Frank CFA (CFA)
Niger Oil Pipeline
2024: First Niger oil reaches Benin via pipeline, but U.S. urges Benin to halt project
In April 2024, the construction of a pipeline between Niger and Benin was completed. The Niger junta was actively frightened by sanctions against this project in the United States and ECOWAS.
Oil from the Agadesa field reached Benin's Seme Krake, near the capital Cotonou.
Niger, brokered by China's CNPC, with which a new export treaty was recently signed, produces 20,000 barrels a day.
Under the plans, Niger will produce 200,000 barrels per day by 2026, making it one of the largest oil exporters in. To Africa
For Benin, this pipeline is important, since it was planned to create about 2,000 new jobs for its maintenance. In addition, the Niger authorities will pay transit duties for access to Benin ports.
Meanwhile, already in early May 2024, Benin was forced to close its ports for the export of Niger oil - the reason was the refusal of the authorities in Niamey to open its land border with a neighbor due to fear of the appearance of French troops there.
The decision was made after the visit to Benin of the head of the African Command of the US Armed Forces (AFRICOM) and his meeting with the President of the country.
The leadership in Niamey appealed to the Chinese authorities to resolve the conflict and resume the pipeline.
Consumption
2023: Fish consumption is higher than meat consumption
2019: Average rice consumption: 88.6 kg per person per year
2018: Vegetable consumption - 49 kg per capita
Power
2019: Electrification
Benin IT Market
2022: More than 1 start-up
Education
Percentage of people who can read
Health care
2020
Duration of guaranteed paid sick leave 6 months or more
Part of the population defecates on the street
History
2024
Failed attempt to topple President Patrice Talon by his friend Olivier Boko
On September 25, 2024, the Benin government announced the prevention of a coup.
According to official information, ex-Minister of Tourism Oswald Homki was going to transfer an amount of 105 million CFA francs to the head of the president's guard in order to overthrow Patrice Talon. All this was at the behest of the "right hand" - minister without portfolio Olivier Boko.
The latter is connected with the president by personal friendship and they jointly got rich in cotton. But the ambitions of Boko, who hoped to succeed Talon in the 2026 elections, took up.
Radical TNIM Islamists attack Benin to reach sea
By March 2024, militants from the al-Qaeda-affiliated (banned in Russia) group Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslim (DNIM), based in Burkina Faso, are conducting more attacks in the border areas with Benin.
The purpose of these strikes is to expand activities to ECOWAS countries in order to reach the coast of the Gulf of Guinea.
Over the past month, the radicals have carried out two attacks on the village of Angaradebu in Kandy and the village of Monroe in Segban.
Also from the territory of Benin, militants carry out attacks in Niger - this is how a border post in the village of Siya was attacked.
The ideas of the radicals find support among the population of Benin, as evidenced by the harboring of militants in the homes of civilians.
The unhindered movement of radicals along the border zone is due to the presence of a specially protected reserve "V-Arli-Panjari" in the border area.
The biological importance of the facility to the countries of the region does not allow air strikes on camps in this area.
Ground operations are also impossible due to the weak coordination of the armed forces between the Alliance of Sahel States and ECOWAS. The militants move to another area without any problems and later return.
The increase in DNIM activity in Benin is also caused by defeats suffered in battles with the Burkina Faso Armed Forces during army operations to regain control over the country.
Seeing a weaker enemy without even a UAV in their arsenal, they take advantage of the opportunity to strike unprotected targets.
The result of their activities was the flight of more than 12 thousand people from the north of the country. The Benin government provides assistance to them, but does not introduce effective measures to counter the group, not considering it a serious threat.
This could be a significant challenge for ECOWAS in the near future.
The militants' access to the sea will allow them to transport smuggling on a large scale, which will strengthen their combat effectiveness and increase the flow of funds, wrote Rybar.
2019: Pirates kidnap 9 sailors of Norwegian vessel off Benin coast
In early November 2019, it became known that pirates kidnapped nine sailors of a Norwegian ship off the coast of Benin.
Local authorities report that the cargo ship MV Bonita, owned by the Norwegian company JJ Ugland, was captured by pirates 14 km from the port of Cotonou.
The vessel was carrying mineral fertilizers and was anchored when pirates called on it on Saturday morning.
For security reasons, the Norwegian shipowner did not disclose the nationality of the crew and the number of those who escaped capture.
1972: President's guard Mathieu Kereku commits a coup
On October 26, 1972, Mathieu Kereku, who worked as a guard for President Hubert Magus, the first president of the Republic of Benin, launched a coup against the president. In 1968-1970 Kereku studied in the French military training system.
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