Benin calls for African borders to become bridges, not barriers

On the occasion of the 16th African Border Day on June 7, 2026, Benin's Interior Minister Djibril Mama Cissé called for turning borders into spaces of integration. Benin organized activities in five border communes, including awareness workshops and medical consultations, under the Integrated Border Area Management Program. The minister emphasized that free movement of people and goods remains a major challenge for African integration, noting that only a few states have ratified the AU Protocol on Free Movement. Benin stands out with visa-free access for all African nationals according to the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index.