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Key Facts about Benin

Dec. 8, 2025

President of Benin recently said that the West African nation's government and armed forces had thwarted a coup attempt by a group of soldiers and vowed to punish them.

About Benin:

  • It is a country in West Africa.
  • Four countries border Benin:
    • Niger, Nigeria, Togo and Burkina Faso.
    • To the south, Benin has a small stretch of coastline on the Bight of Benin, which is part of the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Drainage: Apart from the Niger River, which, with its tributaries the Mékrou, Alibori, and Sota, drains the northeastern part of the country, the three principal rivers in Benin are the Mono, the Couffo, and the Ouémé.
  • The official capital is Porto-Novo, but Cotonou is Benin’s largest city, its chief port, and its de facto administrative capital.
  • Language:
    • The official language of Benin is French.
    • However, indigenous languages such as Fon and Yoruba are commonly spoken.
  • Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF)
  • Benin was a French colony from the late 19th century until 1960.
  • Type of Government:
    • It is a Presidential Republic.
      It follows a multi-party democratic system.

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