Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni is on a two-day official visit to Rwanda, one of his first foreign trips since taking office in May after winning the country’s elections in April. He arrived in Kigali on Wednesday, September 16, and held a tête-à-tête with President Paul Kagame. The two leaders are expected to hold wider talks with their delegations on strengthening cooperation in areas including security, trade and investment, transport, tourism and ICT. ALSO READ: Beninese president visits Rwanda, holds talks with Kagame As the visit unfolds, here is what to know about Benin: More than four times bigger than Rwanda The West African country is more than four times the size of Rwanda, covering about 112,600 square kilometres. It has a population of about 15 million. Its capital is Porto-Novo, while Cotonou, the largest city, is the economic centre and home to the country’s major port. Most of Benin’s population lives in the south, along the coastline. French is the official language, while Fon, Bariba, Yoruba and Dendi are among the indigenous languages spoken across the country. ALSO READ: Rwanda, Benin ink 9 bilateral deals Benin’s history dates back to powerful kingdoms and states, most notably the Kingdom of Dahomey, which flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries. France took control of the territory in 1894 and incorporated it into French West Africa. Dahomey gained independence in 1960. The country was renamed Benin in 1975. A growing economy and potential gateway to West Africa Though Benin’s economy has traditionally depended heavily on agriculture, particularly cotton and palm oil, the services and industry sector have become increasingly significant drivers of growth. The World Bank estimates that Benin’s economy grew by 8.1 per cent in 2025, with gross domestic product at about $24.6 billion. Services, including trade and transport, were major contributors, while construction and manufacturing also strengthened. The Port of Cotonou is central to the economy and the country’s role as a regional trading hub. Recent growth in port activity has been supported by rising demand from Nigeria, new regional trade routes and increased export volumes. Benin’s location gives it access to the wider West African market, while Rwanda and Benin have opportunities to deepen cooperation in areas such as digital services, investment facilitation and tourism. Tourism built on history and nature Tourism is a key source of foreign exchange for Benin, with attractions ranging from wildlife to history and culture. In the north, Pendjari National Park is known for elephants, lions, antelopes, hippos and other wildlife. The government is seeking to position the Pendjari-W complex as a leading safari destination in West Africa. ALSO READ: Kagame, Benin President discuss bilateral ties In the south, Ouidah is one of the country’s most important historical and cultural destinations. It is closely associated with Vodun traditions and the history of the transatlantic slave trade, including the Route of the Enslaved and the Door of No Return. Another distinctive attraction is Ganvié, a centuries-old settlement built on stilts on Lake Nokoué. Its homes, floating markets, fishing traditions and canoe transport have made it one of Benin’s best-known tourism sites. Relations with Rwanda Rwanda and Benin have expanded cooperation in security, trade and investment, transport, tourism and ICT. President Kagame visited Benin in 2023 and held talks with then-President Patrice Talon. The two countries signed nine bilateral cooperation agreements in 2023 covering areas including avoidance of double taxation, agriculture, digital development, local governance, sustainable development, military cooperation, commercial and industrial cooperation, tourism and investment promotion.
