Benin grants citizenship to 28 afro-descendants in historic ceremony

The Ministry of Justice and Legislation of Bénin formally presented national identity certificates to 28 Afro-descendants during a solemn ceremony held at the Cotonou Judicial Complex on July 30, 2026. This milestone event reinforces the nation’s commitment to historical remembrance and symbolic reparations for the descendants of those torn from Bénin‘s soil centuries ago.

A ceremony steeped in historical significance

The event, presided over by Yvon Detchenou, Bénin‘s Minister of Justice and Legislation, brought together high-ranking officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Corinne Amori Brunet, and Rose-Marie Sossa, Technical Advisor to the Justice Minister. The timing of the ceremony coincided with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, underscoring the nation’s ongoing reconciliation efforts.

Rose-Marie Sossa emphasized the symbolic weight of the occasion, stating that the certificates represent “memory, resilience, and a shared future.” She highlighted that obtaining Bénin‘s citizenship not only grants civic participation rights but also enables beneficiaries to pass nationality to their descendants. “This citizenship binds you to Bénin‘s history, values, laws, and institutions,” she affirmed.

Voices of gratitude from across the diaspora

Recipients, hailing from the United States, Haiti, and other nations, shared emotional testimonies of their newfound connection to Bénin. God Win Louis, a Haitian Afro-descendant whose ancestors originated from Sakété and Allada, expressed his deep fulfillment: “I’ve visited Bénin ten times already. Today, I feel even more Bénin.” For Fresner Delva, an American recipient, the gesture represents both historical justice and the healing of long-suppressed identities.

The ceremony marks a pivotal step in Bénin‘s broader strategy to reconnect with its diaspora and honor the memory of those displaced by the transatlantic slave trade.