Cotonou: News, Events, and Stories from Benin's Economic Hub

When you think of Cotonou, the largest city and economic capital of Benin, located on the Atlantic coast and home to over 700,000 people. Also known as Benin’s commercial engine, it’s where markets buzz, ports hum, and political decisions ripple across West Africa. This isn’t just another African city—it’s the beating heart of Benin’s economy, where goods from across the region pass through its ports, and where everyday people navigate everything from currency shifts to protests over public pay.

Cotonou’s story is tied to its port, one of the busiest in West Africa, serving not just Benin but landlocked neighbors like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. That means when there’s a policy change in Abuja or a trade deal in Lagos, you’ll feel it here first. You’ll see it in the price of rice at the Dantokpa Market, in the long lines at the bank when the naira or CFA franc moves, or in the street corners where workers gather after salary delays. The city’s politics aren’t just local—they’re regional. When Nigeria’s government cracks down on smuggling, Cotonou’s informal traders feel it. When Benin’s president announces new infrastructure projects, the roads around Cotonou change fast. And when the national budget gets cut, as it did in 2025 with public workers demanding back pay, it’s Cotonou where the pickets form and the headlines are made.

It’s also where culture meets commerce. From the rhythms of local music spilling out of roadside speakers to the quiet debates in French and Fon at the city’s cafés, Cotonou is alive with tension and energy. You won’t find it in guidebooks, but you’ll find it in the headlines: a court ruling on tinted glass permits that confused police, a businessman’s bail hearing that sparked national debate, or the moment a local entrepreneur like Aliko Dangote decided to cut out the middlemen and sell gas straight to families. These aren’t random events—they’re all tied to Cotonou’s role as a crossroads of power, money, and survival.

What you’ll find below isn’t just news from Cotonou. It’s the real-life impact of decisions made here—how they affect trade, how they shape politics, and how they change the lives of ordinary people trying to get by. From salary disputes to port logistics, from legal battles to economic shifts, this collection shows Cotonou not as a footnote, but as a force.