The Maison des Jeunes in Natitingou hosted the official celebrations of World Refugee Day 2026 on Saturday, 20 June 2026.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr Djibril MAMA CISSE, Minister of Interior and Public Security, alongside Ms Aminatou SAR, UN Resident Coordinator in Bénin, and Mr Thomas WYLLIE, Deputy Regional Director of UNHCR for West Africa. The event featured speeches, visits to exhibition stands showcasing income-generating activities run by refugees, and a tree-planting session.
This year’s international theme, ‘Until everyone is safe’, aimed to spark reflection on the situation of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide. According to updated figures, Bénin currently hosts 29,000 refugees and asylum seekers, with an additional 14,000 applicants awaiting refugee status.
In her address, Ms Aminatou SAR noted that these numbers reflect real pressure on the country but also highlight the commitment of the government and people of Bénin to welcome and protect refugees and asylum seekers. She assured that the UN system remains mobilized alongside Bénin, working daily to protect displaced persons, ensure access to food and healthcare, guarantee children’s education, and provide psychosocial support.
Mr Djibril MAMA CISSE stated that World Refugee Day is a key opportunity to reaffirm solidarity with those forced to flee persecution, conflict, and violence. He emphasized that this year’s theme reminds us that refugee protection is a shared responsibility requiring solidarity, humanity, and cooperation among international organizations and communities. He reassured that Bénin ensures refugee protection through a strengthened legal and institutional framework, granting refugees access to essential services in health, education, employment, and social protection.
Despite the current security context, Mr CISSE reaffirmed Bénin’s attachment to the right of asylum and the principle of non-refoulement, stating that national security imperatives and international protection requirements can be reconciled through effective mechanisms for identifying, registering, and monitoring refugees and asylum seekers.
The official launch also featured speeches from Mr Thomas WYLLIE, Natitingou’s first deputy mayor Mr Norbert Tido N’DAH, and refugee spokesperson Mr Albert NACOULMA. The latter reiterated the refugees’ promise to respect Bénin’s laws and regulations and to work for better social cohesion.
The ceremony concluded with a tree-planting exercise and other activities.
