Benin/High-level meeting: Benin and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seal historic alliance

On Wednesday January 08, 2025, Cotonou hosted the First Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Benin and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The meeting marked a historic moment of rapprochement between Benin and this region of the world, and provided an opportunity to focus on strengthened bilateral ties and concrete actions for the future.

This high-level meeting brought together eight countries from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). These are Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica and Suriname. CARICOM is a strategic axis of Beninese diplomacy, desired and supported by the Head of State, Mr. Patrice TALON since 2016. Benin and the Caribbean share a long common history, marked by the transatlantic slave trade and the deportation of millions of Africans, separated from their countries of origin. The Cotonou meeting aims to consolidate the links between Africa and this region, notably through the essential role of the Afro-descendant diaspora.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Olushegun Adjadi BAKARI, the work focused on three major subjects. Firstly, cultural issues; Benin and this region of the world share historic cultural ties, and the Ministers and heads of delegation agreed to work to strengthen this axis. Economic issues were then addressed. Benin's diplomacy is aimed at development. For this reason, the parties discussed mechanisms for increasing trade and investment.

On issues of peace and security, discussions focused on the situation in Haiti. According to the final communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the Ministers expressed their concern at the socio-political and security situation in Haititi, and welcomed Benin's involvement alongside CARICOM and other international partners in promoting peace and development in Haiti.

The Caribbean States congratulate Benin on the adoption of the law on recognition of nationality

On questions of memory and mobility, the Ministers welcomed the efforts made by the Government of Benin through the adoption of Law N°2024-31 of September 02, 2024, on the recognition of Beninese nationality for Afro-descendants in the Republic of Benin. They also congratulated Benin on its support for CARICOM's restorative justice efforts.

An opening ceremony rich in stories

In his opening speech, the head of Benin's diplomatic service, Mr. Olushegunoninese diplomacy, Mr Olushegun Adjadi BAKARI thanked President Patrice TALON for his vision of bringing Benin closer to Africa and the Caribbean. He underlined the shared history between Benin and the CARICOM states, marked by hardship and bearing the scars of a ruthless transatlantic slave trade.But it also reveals a resilience and an ability to transcend adversity. Vodun is eloquent proof of this resilience, he added.

After recounting the history of the slave trade that deported millions of Africans from their homelands, the Chairman-in-Office of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Community Relations of the European Union (Etrangères et des Relations communautaires de la CARICOM (COFCOR), Mr. Vince HENDERSON welcomed Benin's passage of the law granting nationality to Afro-descendants. This initiative by President Patrice TALON will enable many Africans to reconnect with their Nations.

During his inaugural presentation, Mr Georges-Emmanuel GERMANY, Ambassador in charge of the Afro-descendant Diaspora in the West Indies, underlined the importance of this meeting in consolidating links between Africa and the Caribbean, notably through the essential role of the Afro-descendant diaspora.

During the meeting, the Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on political and diplomatic consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic.re des Affaires étrangères de la République du Bénin and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Dominica, Haiti, Grenada and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Source: www.gouv.bj/