Celebration of the 65th anniversary of Benin's independence at the Embassy

Speech by the Ambassador

Members of the AsBeQa Executive Board;

Dear compatriots, members of the Beninese community living in Qatar, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I welcome you all here to the Embassy of Benin, on the occasion of the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the independence of our beloved homeland, Benin.

This national day of commemoration invites us to a moment of reflection and gratitude. We pay tribute to our valiant predecessors, architects of the independence achieved in 1960, and salute all successive governments, public officials, and ordinary citizens who, since then, have tirelessly worked to build a stable, modern, respected, and prosperous Beninese state.

Allow me to particularly salute our country's courageous and methodical march towards progress, led since 2016 under the leadership of President Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon, whom I would like to recall here with respect and gratitude.

Dear compatriots,

Under the leadership of the Head of State, Benin has undertaken far-reaching reforms, visible in all key sectors of national life: infrastructure, health, education, the economy, culture, governance, and, above all, the digitalization of public administration.

Thanks to these reforms, each of us, including here in Qatar, can securely access our official documents remotely: birth certificates, RAVIP (Refugee Insurance Plan), biometric identity cards, IFU (International Fund for Foreign Nationals), certificates, and many others. These advances make life easier for the diaspora and bring us ever closer to the national territory, despite the distances we travel.

In line with this momentum, the strategic reconfiguration of Beninese diplomacy, now focused on the three-dimensional dimension, deserves to be commended and highlighted. This new doctrine places a central role on the promotion and consideration of Beninese citizens, wherever they may be in the world.

Today, Beninese passport holders can travel to 33 countries worldwide without a prior visa. This demonstrates our country's growing credibility on the international stage and a renewed respectability for Beninese citizens in the community of nations.

Furthermore, bilateral and multilateral cooperation efforts have enabled Benin to mobilize substantial external resources for development, based on a philosophy of equitable, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships.

But the greatest merit of the modernization initiated since 2016 is that it is not conceived as a one-off project, but as a project to be pursued over the long term, with rigor and consistency.

Dear members of the diaspora,

This is where you have a historic role to play.

As the President of the Republic has repeatedly stated, the Beninese diaspora is not only an economic or intellectual force, it is also a civic and patriotic force.

As we approach the 2026 elections, your voice, your conscience, and your commitment must be influential so that the choice of the next President of the Republic represents responsible and ambitious continuity. A continuity that guarantees the continuation of the work begun since 2016, a continuity of development, stability, and modernity.

This is not about choosing a person at random, but a personality capable of preserving what has been achieved and carrying the torch of a new Benin even higher.

Dear compatriots,

I encourage you to stay informed, organized, and united. To contribute responsibly to the national debate. And to pass on to the younger generation the values of discipline, rigor, hard work, and love of country.

The Embassy will always be at your side to support you in your endeavors and initiatives. This home is yours.

Happy Independence Day to all of you!

Long live to Beninese diaspora!

Long live to the Republic of Benin!

Thank you.