Benin grants nationality certificates to afro-descendants from overseas

The Beninese government issued nationality certificates to 53 Afro-descendants during a ceremony at the Complexe judiciaire de Cotonou on October 24, 2026.

These recipients arrived from various locations, including Haiti, France, and Martinique. Officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presided over the event to formalize the recognition of these individuals as citizens.

The ceremony follows a law passed on July 31, 2024, which aims to recognize Beninese nationality for descendants of people deported during the slave trade. To manage these claims, the government launched the My Afro Origins platform in July 2025. This digital tool provides an administrative process for people seeking to reconnect with their heritage. Béatrice Toni, a French citizen, stated she intends to complete the necessary formalities so her relatives can also obtain Beninese nationality.

This event follows a previous ceremony in August 2026, where ten people from Guadeloupe received their certificates.