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Benin [shutterstock]

Benin

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Ambassador Brian Shukan

International Travel Information

What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc.

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Current Travel Advisories

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

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The United States Delivers COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Benin

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Since July, 2021 the United States has shared 2,418,390 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Benin – free of cost. This includes 1,107,990 Pfizer and 1,310,400 J&J doses. Of the 2,418,390 vaccine doses, 86% were donated in partnership with COVAX and 14% were donated through AVAT.

President Biden committed the United States to be the world’s arsenal for vaccines, leading an international and coordinated vaccination effort, and announced that the United States will provide 1.2 billion doses of safe, effective vaccines – free of cost – to meet global needs and save lives now. The United States is working with other governments, global initiatives including COVAX and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), and other partners to get COVID-19 vaccines to where they are needed most.

Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery.

Highlights

March 27, 2023

Joint 10-Year Plans for the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability

March 25, 2023

Pursuing Peace Through Partnerships, Local Engagement, and Learning

24 mars 2023

La Stratégie des États-Unis pour la prévention des conflits et la promotion de la stabilité Plan stratégique décennal pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest côtière

March 24, 2023

The U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability 10-Year Strategic Plan for Coastal West Africa

March 24, 2023

United States Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability: Country and Regional Plan Summaries

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Bureau of African Affairs Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations Côte d'Ivoire Ghana Guinea
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U.S. Relationship

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U.S.-Benin Relations

The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Benin in 1960, following its independence from France. The U.S. supports the consolidation of democracy and economic liberalization in Benin. Legislative and presidential elections in 2015 and 2016, respectively, were peaceful and benefited from strong citizen participation and robust press freedom. Poor health care, the low quality of public education, and endemic corruption, however, persist as obstacles to national development.

U.S. Assistance to Benin

The U.S. supports efforts to improve the health of Beninese families by reducing the malaria disease burden, improving the health of mothers and young children, and strengthening the health system. U.S. assistance also provides support to Benin’s defense and military capacity enhancement, enabling the country to maintain domestic peace and security while contributing to regional stability.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Benin is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The U.S. aims to promote increased trade with Benin and to stimulate U.S. investment in key sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and transportation. Benin and the U.S. have a bilateral investment agreement. The U.S. also has a trade and investment framework agreement with the West African Economic and Monetary Union, of which Benin is a member.

Benin Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage. Note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia. [CIA World Fact Book]

Additional Resources

U.S. Department of State

External Resources

U.S. Department of State

The Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future