The Beninese government, under the leadership of President Patrice Talon, has introduced a groundbreaking bill to Parliament aimed at granting Beninese citizenship to individuals of African descent. This initiative seeks to mend the historical wounds inflicted by the transatlantic slave trade and to strengthen cultural and historical ties with the descendants of Africans who were forcibly removed from their homeland.
According to the government, the proposed law offers Beninese citizenship by recognition to individuals who can prove their sub-Saharan African ancestry and whose ancestors were victims of the slave trade. This move is intended to address the deep psychological and societal scars left by the slave trade, both on African societies and on the descendants of those who were enslaved.
The bill defines an Afro-descendant as “any person who, according to their genealogy, has sub-Saharan African ancestry deported outside the African continent as part of the slave trade.” To be eligible, applicants must provide evidence of their African descent through civil status documents, authenticated testimonies, or DNA tests conducted by accredited institutions in Benin.
“Proof of Afro-descendants is provided by the applicant by means of any civil status or official documentation, all testimonies established by authentic deed, a DNA test carried out by an approved structure in Benin, or by any other technical or scientific means,” the bill states. However, it is important to note that this recognition of nationality does not grant political rights, such as the right to vote or access to civil service positions.
Also, read; Africa’s Richest Man, Aliko Dangote Ranks 6th Among World’s Richest Manufacturing Billionaires
Successful applicants will receive a three-year Benin passport. To obtain a naturalization certificate, they must “stay in the country a few days” before their passport expires. The General Secretariat of the Government of Benin explains that this measure aims to “allow African descendants to reconnect with their roots and maintain a living link with the lands of their ancestors.” The government hopes this law will encourage African descendants to invest in the country and participate in its socio-economic development.
If adopted, this legislation would position Benin among a select few African countries that allow citizenship by descent beyond the first generation. Other countries with similar provisions include Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Rwanda, and Zambia. The bill is currently under review by the Beninese Parliament, which is preparing to vote on it.
The government’s recent decision to waive visa requirements for citizens of 31 African countries for stays of less than 90 days further underscores its commitment to African unity and solidarity. “This bill submitted to the National Representation once again reinforces the pan-Africanist policy advocated by the Government since 2016 through the abolition of visas for all African nationals and reflects a strong desire for African integration,” the government stated.
While the proposed law is rooted in cultural and historical considerations, it also aims to foster economic growth by encouraging eligible individuals to invest in Benin. However, potential applicants must weigh the sentimental value of reconnecting with their ancestral homeland against the tangible benefits of holding a Benin passport.
A Benin passport provides visa-free access to 63 destinations worldwide, primarily within Africa, with some in Latin America and Asia. Moreover, as a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Benin offers its citizens the right to enter, reside, and work in 14 other African countries within the bloc.
The Beninese government will need to clarify whether a passport alone suffices for residency in an ECOWAS member state or if full citizenship is required. This question and others will need to be addressed as the bill progresses through the legislative process.
Article 98 of the Beninese Constitution stipulates that “citizenship and civil rights are the domain of the law,” and although the proposed nationality by recognition confers all rights and obligations attached to it, it excludes “political rights and access to the Beninese Civil Service,” as per Article 36 of Law No. 2022-32 of December 20, 2022, establishing the nationality code in the Republic of Benin.
As the world watches, Benin’s proposed law could set a precedent for other nations seeking to address historical injustices and strengthen ties with the African diaspora.
