On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the official celebrations for World Refugee Day 2026 took place at the Maison des Jeunes in Natitingou. The event brought together government officials, UN representatives, and refugee community members.
Official ceremony in Natitingou
The opening ceremony was chaired by Djibril MAMA CISSE, Minister of Interior and Public Security, alongside Aminatou SAR, UN Resident Coordinator in Bénin, and Thomas WYLLIE, Deputy Regional Director of UNHCR for West Africa. The event featured speeches, a tour of exhibition stands showcasing income-generating activities 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. Bénin currently hosts 29,000 refugees and asylum seekers, while 14,000 more are waiting for their refugee status to be determined.
Speeches highlight commitment
In her speech, Aminatou SAR highlighted that these numbers reflect a real burden on Bénin, but also demonstrate the commitment of the government and people to welcome and protect refugees and asylum seekers. She assured that the United Nations system remains fully engaged alongside Bénin, working daily to protect displaced persons, ensure access to food and healthcare, guarantee children’s education, and provide psychosocial support.
Minister Djibril MAMA CISSE stated that World Refugee Day provides 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 between international organizations and host communities. He reassured that Bénin ensures refugee protection through a strengthened legal and institutional framework, granting refugees access to essential services such as health, education, employment, and social protection.
Despite the current security context, Minister Cisse reaffirmed Bénin’s attachment to the right to asylum and the principle of non-refoulement. He explained that national security imperatives and international protection requirements can be reconciled through effective identification, registration, and monitoring mechanisms for refugees and asylum seekers.
The official launch also featured addresses by Thomas WYLLIE, Norbert Tido N’DAH (first deputy mayor of Natitingou), and refugee spokesperson Albert NACOULMA. NACOULMA reiterated the refugees’ commitment to respect Bénin’s laws and regulations and to promote social cohesion.
The ceremony concluded with a tree-planting exercise and other activities.
