Country Profile - Benin

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 229. Outgoing international code: 00. There is an additional charge for calls made from a coin box.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network. Operators include Libercom, Spacetel-Benin (website: www.spacetelbenin.com) and Telecel Benin (website: www.telecel.com). Handsets can be hired locally. Further information can be obtained from the Office de Postes et dés Télécommunications du Bénin (website: www.opt.bj).

Internet: OPT has just launched its own ISP (website: www.opt.bj). Public access is available in Cotonou.

Post: Airmail takes 3 to 5 days to reach Europe. Surface mail letters or parcels take from 6 to 8 weeks. There are good poste restante facilities at most main post offices. Post office hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1400.

Press: Exclusively in French. The fortnightly Journal Officiel de la République du Bénin is issued by the government information bureau. La Nation is the daily official newspaper. Other dailies include Le Matinal and Le Point au Quotidien.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Passport/Visa:

Restricted entry: All visitors over 1 year of age are required to produce a yellow fever certificate on entry to Benin.

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all except nationals of the following countries in possession of a national identity card: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:

(a) ECOWAS members;
(b) those in transit continuing their onward journey within 24 hours, provided holding confirmed tickets and not leaving the airport.

Note: All children of nationals who require a visa, issued with their own passport, do require a visa.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business. Visas cost £35 for 15 days; £45 for 30 days; £55 for 90 days.

Validity: Visas are valid for a 15-, 30- or 90-day period within 3 months of date of issue.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Application form completed in duplicate. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Pre-paid registered envelope large enough to fit passport, if applying by post. (e) Fee. (f) For a Business visa, a letter from the applicant’s company.

Working days required: Callers at the Consulate are usually able to obtain visas on the same day.

Temporary residence: Enquire at Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy)

Money :

Currency: CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Benin is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Currency exchange: Currency can be exchanged at banks and in major hotels.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted on a limited basis. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Some banks may advance cash or visa cards.

Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions: The import of local currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of local currency is unlimited for EU residents; other nationalities must declare currency that is to be exported (proof of origin might be demanded). The import of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of foreign currency is limited to the equivalent of CFAfr100,000.

Exchange rate indicators: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the CFA Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1100 and 1500-1700. Some banks may open on Saturday

Duty Free:

Duty-Free: The following items may be imported into Benin by travellers aged over 15 without incurring customs duty:

200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1 bottle of wine and 1 bottle of spirits; 500ml of eau de toilette and 250ml of perfume.

Public Holidays:

Public Holidays: Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 10 Traditional Day. Feb 2 Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 2 Prophet’s Birthday. May 20 Ascension Day. May 31 Whit Monday. Aug 1 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Oct 26 Armed Forces Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 14-16 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Nov 30 National Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Jan 10 Traditional Day. Jan 21 Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 28 Easter Monday. Apr 21 Prophet’s Birthday. May 1 Labour Day. May 5 Ascension Day. May 16 Whit Monday. Aug 1 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Oct 26 Armed Forces Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 3-5 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Nov 30 National Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day.

Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. For further details, see the World of Islam appendix.

Health :

• A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by all travellers over 1 year of age. Risk occurs in all rural areas, but especially in Atakora and Borgou.
• Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Benin. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix.
• Vaccination against typhoid is advised.
• Malaria is a risk all year throughout the country. It occurs predominantly in the malignant falciparum form. Resistance to chloroquine is common. A weekly dose of 250mg of mefloquine is recommended.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid all dairy products. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Hepatitis A and E are widespread. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Hepatitis C occurs. Meningococcal meningitis is a risk, depending on the area and the time of year. Immunisation against hepatitis B, diphtheria and meningococcal A and C is sometimes recommended. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Onchoceriasis (river blindness) exists and precautions are recommended. TB occurs. Haemorrhagic fevers can be a risk in rural areas; rat-contaminated food should be avoided. The hot, dusty, windy environmental conditions in November and December may exacerbate respiratory problems.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Medical facilities are limited, especially outside the major towns, and not all medicines are available. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Medical insurance is strongly recommended.

Travel – International :

AIR: Air Burkina, Air France, Air Gabon, Air Ivoire, Cameroon Airlines and Delta Airlines all run services to and from Benin. Benin also has a shareholding in Air Afrique (RK).

International airports: Cotonou Cadjehoun (COO) is 5km (3 miles) west of the city. Taxis and limousines are available to the city (travel time – 15-20 minutes). Airport facilities include duty-free shop, restaurant, bar, post office, business centre, 24-hour medical facilities, bank and car hire (Benin Limousine and Hertz Benin).

Departure tax: None.

SEA: Several shipping lines run regular cargo services from Marseille to Cotonou. Local shipping from Lagos arrives in Porto Novo.

RAIL: The railway line from Parakou (via Gaya) to Niamey in Niger, currently under construction, will provide the first rail link into Niger.

ROAD: There are at least three good main roads: one connecting Cotonou with Niamey in Niger; another connecting Lagos with Porto Novo, Cotonou, Lomé and Accra; and a third connecting Parakou with Kara in Togo. Buses and taxis are available.

Travel – Internal :

AIR: Government aeroplanes run services between Cotonou, Parakou, Natitingou, Djougou and Kandi. It is also possible to charter two-seater aeroplanes.

RAIL: Benin has about 600km (400 miles) of rail track. Trains run from Cotonou to Pobé, Ouidah and Parakou. Food is available on some services. Upholstered seats are available only in first-class cars and these exist only on the route to Parakou. Children aged under 4 travel free and children aged 4 to 9 pay half fare. Approximate travel times from Cotonou to Parakou is 12 to 14 hours, to Segboroué is 2 hours 30 minutes and to Pobé is 4 hours.

ROAD: The roads are in reasonably good condition and many of those which run from Cotonou to Dassa, and Parakou to Malanville, are paved. Tracks are passable during the dry season but often impassable during the rainy season. Traffic drives on the right. Minibus and bush taxi services run along major road routes. Minibuses are cheaper but slower. Car hire: A number of local firms are available in Cotonou. Documentation: An international Driving Permit is required.

URBAN: Taxis are widely available in the main towns. Taxi fares should be agreed in advance.

Accommodation :

Main towns and urban areas have a variety of hotels. Top-end hotels are, however, mainly found in and around the capital. There are also some campsites in and around Cotonou. There are a few establishments (campements) for game viewing at Porga near Pendjari National Park.

Sport & Activities :

There are limited facilities for watersports on the coast, but visitors should note that tides and currents can render the sea very dangerous and at certain places only the strongest swimmers should venture in. There are good beaches at Grand Popo and Ouidah. In Cotonou, several hotels have swimming pools, and tennis is available at the Club du Benin and sailing at the Yacht Club. A dug-out canoe or motorboat can be hired on Nakoue Lagoon.

Wildlife: The country’s two national parks, Pendjari and ‘W’ are the best places to view wildlife. For further details see Resorts and Excursions section.

Social Profile :

Food & Drink: There is a selection of restaurants and hotels in Cotonou, serving French food with table service, although some also serve local African specialities, particularly seafood.

Nightlife: Cotonou offers several nightclubs, but elsewhere there is little nightlife except during festivals.

Shopping: In Cotonou, along the marina, there are many stalls selling handicrafts and souvenirs. The Dan Tokpa market borders the Cotonou Lagoon and is stocked with many goods from Nigeria and elsewhere as well as traditional medicines and artefacts. Crafts and local goods can be purchased in many towns and villages elsewhere, particularly in markets. Good buys include ritual masks, tapestries, elongated statues and pottery. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1300 and 1600-1900.

Social Conventions: Normal courtesies are appreciated; it is customary to shake hands on arrival and departure. However, religious beliefs play a large part in society and these should be respected. Voodoo is perhaps the most striking and best-known religion, and has acquired considerable social and political power. Only priests can communicate with voodoos and spirits of the dead. If travelling, it is advisable to clear itineraries with district or provincial authorities. Casual wear is acceptable in most places. Tipping: It is normal to tip 10 per cent of the bill in hotels and restaurants

Business Profile :

Economy: Since the transition to democratic government in 1991, Benin has undergone a remarkable economic recovery. A large injection of external investment from both private and public sources has alleviated the economic difficulties of the early 1990s, caused by global recession and persistently low commodity prices (although the latter continues to affect the economy). Benin’s economy is principally agricultural – it is self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs, the main export commodities being cotton, peanuts, coffee and palm oil. The manufacturing sector is confined to some light industry, mainly involved in processing primary products and the production of consumer goods. A planned joint hydroelectric project with neighbouring Togo is intended to reduce Benin’s dependence on imported energy (mostly from Ghana), which currently accounts for a significant proportion of the country’s imports. The service sector has grown quickly, stimulated by economic liberalisation and fiscal reform. Membership of the CFA Franc Zone offers reasonable currency stability as well as access to French economic support. Benin sells its products mainly to France and, in smaller quantities, to India, Korea, Japan and The Netherlands. The country’s leading suppliers are France and Germany. Benin is also a member of the West African economic community ECOWAS.

Business: It is essential to be able to conduct conversations in French. Normal courtesies should be observed and punctuality is especially important. Lightweight tropical suits should be worn. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1230 and 1500-1830.

Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Bénin, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 01 BP 31, Cotonou (tel: 312 081 or 314 386; fax: 313 299; e-mail: ccib@bow.intnet.bj).

Climate :

Climate: The south has an equatorial climate with four seasons. It is hot and dry from January to April and during August, with rainy seasons through May to July and September to December. The north has more extreme temperatures, hot and dry between November and June, cooler and very wet between July and October.

Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens. A light raincoat or an umbrella is necessary in rainy seasons and warmer clothes are advised for cool evenings.