Embassy/Consulate Addresses | Foreign Relations | Travel Advisories | Travel Tips | Customs/Duties



EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Segbe Cyrille OGUIN
Embassy: 2124 Kalorama Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 232-6656, 6657, 6658
Fax: (202) 265-1996

US diplomatic representation:
Ambassador: James A. Knight
Embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
Mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
Telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50.
Fax: [229] 21-30-14-39

Beninese Embassies and Consulates around the World

Algeria
16 Lotissement du Stade, Birkhadem, Les Sources Birmandreis
BP 103
Algiers
Tel: (213) 256 5271

Belgium
Avenue de l'Observatoire 5
1180 Brussels
Tel: (32-2) 375 0674, 374 9191

Canada
58 Glebe Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2C3
Tel: (613) 233-4868, 233-5273

China
36 Kouang Houa Lou
Beijing
Tel: (86-10) 532 3054

Congo-Kinshasa
3990 Avenue des Cliniques
BP 3265
Kinshasa
Tel: (243-12) 28822

Côte d'Ivoire
Boulevard Andre Latrille, Lot 244
09 BP 283
Abidjan
Tel: (225) 41 44 14, 41 50 58

Cuba
Calle 20, No 119/F1, Ray 3 na Avenue Miramar
Havana

France
87 Avenue Victor Hugo
75116 Paris
Tel: (33-1) 45 00 98 82

Germany
Rudigestrasse 10
Postfach 228
5300 Bonn-Mehlem
tel: (49-228) 344 031, 349 961

Ghana
Volta Street, 2nd Close, No. 19, Airport Residential Area
PO Box 7871
Accra
Tel: (233) 21 77 48 60

Libya
BP 6676
Tripoli
Tel: (218) 72914

Niger
BP 11544
Naimey
Tel: (227) 72 39 19

Nigeria
4 Abudu Smith, Victoria Island
PO Box 5705
Lagos
Tel: (234-1) 614 411

Russia
4a Uspenski Pereoulok
Moscow
Tel: (7-095) 299 2360

United Nations
4 East 73 Street
New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 249-6014/5


Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Benin

U.S. Embassy Web Site in Benin


FOREIGN RELATIONS

Abroad, Benin has strengthened ties with France, the former colonial power, as well as the United States and the main international lending institutions. Benin also has adopted a mediating role in the political crises in Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Togo and provided a contribution to the UN force in Haiti. Benin currently has peacekeeping forces, under the UN aegis, in Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Benin's democratic standing, stability, and positive role in international peacekeeping have helped Benin's international stature continue to grow. Benin enjoys stable relations with Nigeria, the main regional power. Benin held a seat on the UN Security Council; its membership term ended December 31, 2005.

U.S.-BENINESE RELATIONS
The United States and Benin have had an excellent history of relations in the years since Benin embraced democracy. The U.S. Government continues to assist Benin with the improvement of living standards that are key to the ultimate success of Benin's experiment with democratic government and economic liberalization, and are consistent with U.S. values and national interest in reducing poverty and promoting growth. The bulk of the U.S. effort in support of consolidating democracy in Benin is focused on long-term human resource development through U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs.

Efforts to pursue this national interest are spearheaded by USAID, which has effective programs focused on primary education, family health (including family planning), women's and children's health, and combating sexually transmitted diseases, especially the spread of HIV. USAID's Democracy and Governance program also emphasizes encouraging greater civil society involvement in national decisionmaking; strengthening mechanisms to promote transparency and accountability; improving the environment for decentralized private and local initiatives; and enhancing the electoral system and the national legislature. A panoply of military-to-military cooperation programs reinforces democratizing efforts. U.S.-Benin military cooperation is now being expanding, both bilaterally and within a broader regional framework.

In February 2006, the Government of Benin signed a 5-year $307 million Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) to increase investment and private sector activity in Benin. The program removes key constraints to growth and supports improvements in physical and institutional infrastructures in four critical sectors: land, financial services, justice, and markets. The proposed projects reinforce each other, contributing to an economic rate of return of 17%.

The U.S. advances the ethos of law enforcement by working with Beninese authorities to crack down on crimes; help eradicate corruption; and promote good governance, the rule of law, and greater official accountability.

The U.S. Public Affairs Office in Cotonou leads the U.S.-Benin cultural, professional, and educational exchanges, with a focus on helping educate the Government of Benin and the public on the trade opportunities and advantages of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The PA Office also helps in expanding efforts to build a more responsible media.

The U.S. Peace Corps program in Benin provides ongoing opportunities for increased understanding between Beninese and Americans. The approximately 110 volunteers promote sustainable development through activities in health, education, the environment, and small enterprise development. The U.S. Peace Corps program in Benin is one of the most successful in Africa, in part because of Beninese receptivity and collaboration.

Currently, trade between Benin and the United States is small, but interest in American products is growing. The United States is interested in promoting increased trade with Benin in order to contribute to U.S. trade with Benin's neighbors, particularly Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which receive large amounts of their own imports through the port of Cotonou. Such trade also is facilitated by Benin's membership in ECOWAS and in the CFA franc monetary zone. The U.S. Government also works to stimulate American investment in key sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and transportation. Benin has been eligible for AGOA since the program began in 2000. It qualified for AGOA textile and apparel benefits in January 2004.

Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--James A. Knight
Deputy Chief of Mission--Susan Tuller
Director, USAID Mission--Kevin Armstrong
Peace Corps Director--Rebecca Brownie Lee
Public Affairs Officer--Rhonda Watson
Political/Economic Officer--Christina Day
Consular Officer--Richard Kolker
Management Officer--Peter Maher

The U.S. Embassy is located on rue Caporal Bernard Anani, 01 BP 2012, Cotonou, Benin, tel. 229-21-30-06-50, fax 229-21-30-14-39. For American citizen services and visa questions, the Embassy consular section fax number is 229-21-30-66-82.







TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Benin check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (XOF) Africaine Franc
Electrical 220 Volts
Telephones Country Code 229, City Code Atlantic and Coastal Area 3+5D, Mono and Couffo 4+5D, Zou and Collines 5+5D



Transportation:
Within all large cities, towns, and some villages, you'll find motorcycle-taxis called "zemidjans." You'll recognize the drivers by their colored shirts (yellow in Cotonou, purple in Porto Novo, etc.). These are by far the fastest, most convenient, cheapest way to travel from place to place within a city, or between neighboring cities and towns. The quality of drivers and motorbikes, however, varies greatly, and breakdowns are not uncommon. Be sure to discuss price with your driver before getting on the bike. Travel within Cotonou, for example can range from 100-200 CFA to get from one part of the city to another; the fares increase after dark.

Currency:
The unit of currency in Benin is the West African CFA.
The value is (estimated) 700 CFA = $US 1. You can change money at the airport upon arrival. There are a variety of banks in Cotonou that will change money and travelers checks, including Ecobank, Financial Bank and Bank of Africa. Financial Bank will also let you withdraw money on your Visa card. There are branches of some of these banks in major cities outside of Cotonou (for example, Porto Novo and Parakou) but in general, your best bet is to change your money in Cotonou. Most banks are open 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. weekdays; the exception is Ecobank in Cotonou, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Credit cards are not widely accepted, except at the upscale hotels and restaurants in Cotonou and major cities.

Communications:
The postal service is fairly reliable in Benin, and there are branch offices all over Cotonou, in all large cities, and many smaller villages. Look for the PTT sign.

Telecommunications is a burgeoning business in Benin, and making an overseas call is quite easy from Cotonou, although it is expensive. Aside from the telephone facilities at most PTTs, there are many "Cabine telephones" throughout the city, from which you can place your call (look for signs). However, the concept of international telephone calling cards is not widely known here, so you may encounter some difficulties as you try to explain the concept. Your best bet is to go to a busy PTT in Cotonou. Calling overseas from other points in Benin ranges from easy to difficult; generally speaking, phone service is better in the southern part of the country and once you get north of Parakou, increasingly difficult.

Internet cafes with e-mail service are springing up all over Cotonou, and can also be found in some southern cities such as Porto Novo, Lokossa and Allada. Rates vary, so your best bet is to check out several, or ask a local friend.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco.................200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 25g of tobacco proudcts

Currency.................Should be declared on arrival

Liquor.....................One bottle of wine and 1 bottle of spirits

Perfume..................500ml of eau de toilette and 250ml of perfume

Gifts.........................Duty free allowance $50.00

Cameras..................No restrictions

Agriculture items.....Refer to Consulate



Back to Top