Register of Beninese Abroad: A Digital Bridge Between Benin and Its Diaspora

Since the launch on April 2, 2024, of the "Register of Beninese Abroad," Romain da Costa, president of the High Council of Beninese Abroad, registered on the platform to encourage his fellow citizens to take the step. “There are Beninese in the diaspora who are still unaware of the importance of the reforms implemented by their country to make administrative procedures easier for them. Many have already registered on the platform, but there are still some who do not know that they can request a birth certificate, a personal identification certificate (Cip) online, or even a judicial record,” he said. This is particularly the case for Thimothé Avocèvou, who has been residing in Italy for more than ten years. “The creation of the Register of Beninese Abroad is a remarkable initiative by the government. Since moving abroad, I’ve often felt disconnected from my country, especially when it comes to accessing essential information or consular services,” he said. He adds that with this register, he now perceives a true willingness from the government to include them more in national affairs, offer opportunities for better representation, and reinforce their Beninese identity, even from a distance. “I particularly appreciate the simplicity of the registration process and the fact that, thanks to this register, I now feel more connected to my country, as if my voice carries more weight,” Thimothé Avocevou testified, encouraging his fellow citizens living abroad to register and take advantage of the benefits this initiative offers.

To date, more than 15,000 Beninese from the diaspora have followed Romain da Costa’s example and registered on the platform, which is fully accessible and free online. This is mainly due to the awareness-raising efforts carried out by him and his team through WhatsApp forums and other digital channels. “We explain the importance of registering because the day they need a document, such as a consular card, they will be asked whether they are registered. If the answer is negative, obtaining the card will be complicated. Many of us no longer have their original documents or other up-to-date papers,” said the president of the High Council of Beninese Abroad, adding that Benin has a duty to know the exact number of its citizens residing in Europe, Asia, America, and even other African countries.

During the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the procedures for maintaining the Register of Beninese Abroad were validated in accordance with Article 4 of Law No. 2017-08 of June 19, 2017, concerning the identification of individuals in the Republic of Benin. It stipulates that a “personal identification number (Npi)” is assigned to any Beninese citizen registered on a register held at a Beninese diplomatic mission or consular post abroad. Therefore, Beninese citizens abroad can register with the National Register of Physical Persons (Rnpp). Moreover, they will not have to pay any fees to obtain the Npi certificate, a mandatory step to obtain essential administrative documents.

Managed by Anip, the register allows Beninese citizens without identification documents to obtain a birth certificate, a personal identification certificate, a biometric identity card, and an Npi certificate. This register will now serve as a basis for issuing consular cards and other administrative documents for Beninese citizens abroad through diplomatic and consular representations.

In an interview, Thierry Ahouassou, Director of Information Systems at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that digitalization remains an opportunity for Beninese citizens abroad. “Whether I am in Europe, the United States, or elsewhere, digitalization can reach me. There may be a reduced physical presence that impacts some specific services, but these are aspects that we will gradually digitalize,” he said. He added that this initiative will allow Benin to better know its citizens abroad.

“To deploy a consular mission, we need to know not only in which country the Beninese are located but especially in which city and how many they are,” he pointed out. The Director of Information Systems at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that registering Beninese citizens abroad on the platform will help the country better understand its diaspora.

Recently, as part of the review of the 2021-2026 PAG, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of Foreign Affairs, highlighted that the main issue Benin faces is knowing where its citizens are. “When a Beninese person moves abroad, there was no real system in place to say, 'I declare myself and inform the Beninese state that I am abroad,’” he explained. The Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the goal is to maintain contact with Beninese citizens in case of a crisis or difficult situation and offer them assistance. “It is an essential element of consular protection,” he added. Another reason for setting up the register is to identify skills among Beninese living abroad, according to the ministerial authority.

There is still much to be done to fully satisfy Beninese citizens abroad. Among the challenges is the issue of renewing passports from their country of residence. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to fully digitalize this valuable document by 2025. “Today, we have most of the data on these Beninese to facilitate the procedures,” informed Thierry Ahouassou, emphasizing that all dynamics will be put in place by the end of 2025 to enable the complete digitalization of consular services.