Pray for Benin

About Benin

The capital is Porto-Novo. People speak French, Fon, Yoruba and many other languages. Christianity is the largest faith, with Islam and Vodun also widely practised.

Source: Wikipedia, with the cited sources it lists.

Prayer briefing for Benin

Last updated October 2026. Facts come from the sources listed below.

Current events

Armed groups continue to attack army posts in the far north near Burkina Faso. In March 2026, 15 soldiers were reported killed, and in May JNIM, a group linked to al-Qaeda, claimed attacks on positions in Kourou in which several soldiers died. In July the government warned of heavy rains and rising rivers and urged people to leave homes at risk of flooding.

We pray for: Immediate relief, safety and urgent help.

Leadership and politics

Benin is a presidential republic. Romuald Wadagni, finance minister for ten years, was sworn in as President on 24 May 2026 for a seven-year term, with Mariam Chabi Talata as Vice President. He won about 94% of the vote after the main opposition party could not take part. Former president Patrice Talon now leads the Senate, and in December 2025 the army stopped an attempted coup.

We pray for: Wisdom, integrity and justice for those in authority.

Economic health

Benin has grown strongly for a decade, about 8% in 2025, and the World Bank expects about 8% again in 2026. Inflation is very low, below 1%. Yet the gap between rich and poor remains large, and the share of people below the poverty line was about 40% in 2015, the latest figure available.

We pray for: Provision for families and honest stewardship.

Social and cultural issues

Benin is home to many peoples, including the Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba and Fula. Families in the north live with the fear of violence, and soldiers and their families bear a heavy cost. People in flood-prone areas of the south are also vulnerable in the rainy season.

We pray for: Reconciliation, peace and protection of the vulnerable.

Spiritual landscape

In the 2013 census about 49% of people were Christian, about 28% Muslim and about 12% followed Vodun, with others following traditional or other faiths. Many Christians and Muslims also take part in Vodun practices. Christians live mostly in the south and Muslims mostly in the north, and Ouidah is the spiritual centre of Vodun.

We pray for: Spiritual awakening, hope and the spread of truth.

Religious freedom

The constitution makes Benin a secular state and protects freedom of religion. Groups must register with the Ministry of the Interior, and unregistered places of worship can be closed. The US State Department reported that noise rules have been used against some churches, and that a few churches were robbed. People of different faiths generally live side by side in peace.

We pray for: Protection for believers and freedom to worship safely.

Historical wounds

The Kingdom of Dahomey sold war captives into the Atlantic slave trade, and the coast became known as the Slave Coast. France ruled the land from the 1890s until independence on 1 August 1960. Several coups followed, then nearly two decades of Marxist rule under Mathieu Kérékou, until economic collapse and protests led to democratic change in 1990 and 1991.

We pray for: National healing, breaking old cycles and deep forgiveness.

Let us pray together

Our Father, we come to You together for Benin. Protect the soldiers and families of the north, and keep people safe from violence and floods. Give President Wadagni and all in authority wisdom, integrity and justice. Provide for every family, and let growth reach the poor. Bring peace between all peoples, and protect the vulnerable in north and south. Let the truth of Your love be made known, and bring hope to every heart. Keep believers free to worship safely and in peace with their neighbours. Heal the deep wounds of the slave trade and past conflicts, and lead Benin in forgiveness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Sources

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