Benin: Government Offers Farewell Lunch to Russian Ambassador Igor Evdokimov

On July 14, 2026, Beninese Foreign Minister Corinne Amori Brunet hosted a farewell lunch for Russian Ambassador Igor Evdokimov at the Sofitel Hotel in Cotonou, marking the end of his eight-year tenure in Benin. First hinted at on June 11 during Russia Day, the transition was followed by courtesy visits to Beninese military officials and Togolese Minister Robert Dussey. Evdokimov, appointed in August 2017, oversaw university cooperation (Russian language center) and military ties. His departure is part of a Russian diplomatic rapprochement in West Africa, including the planned reopening of its embassy in Lomé.