Benin
Capital: Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government.
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo (slightly smaller than Pennsylvania).
Background:
Dahomey gained its independence from France in 1960; the name was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989 the country was a socialist state; free elections were reestablished in 1991.
Ethnic Groups:
African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Language:
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Currency:
XOF
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro
Climate:
Tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Population:
6,590,782
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Medical:
Medical facilities in Benin are limited and not all medicines are available. Travelers should bring their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines. Further information on prescription drugs is found in the section on import/export restrictions.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.
Check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc
U.S. citizens living in or visiting Benin are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou at Rue Caporal Anani Bernard. Updated information on travel and security in Benin may be obtained from the U.S. Embassy. The Embassy's mailing address is B.P. 2012, Cotonou, Benin. The telephone numbers are (229) 30-06-50, 30-05-13, and 30-17-92. The fax numbers are (229) 30-14-39 and 30-19-74.
Safety:
U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, political rallies, and street demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times. Additionally, in the weeks prior to the March 2001 presidential elections in Benin, at least one U.S. citizen was detained and extensively interrogated by the police on suspicion of having filmed or photographed a government building. Obtain permission in advance, before taking photographs or videotaping any official persons, places or events.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Benin is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
Poor
Travelers should exercise caution when traveling in Benin as the roads range from fair to very poor. Travel at night, especially outside of population centers, poses a risk principally because of poor road conditions. There are paved roads in Cotonou, along the coast and one paved road north to Niger. Other roads are hard packed sand. All roads, paved or not, are pot-holed and narrow. Motorcycle traffic is very heavy and trucks are usually overloaded. For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html.
