Benin has taken a significant step in expanding its international cooperation by signing a visa exemption agreement with Kuwait for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
The accord was formalised during an official visit to Kuwait City on October 8, 2025, when Beninese Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari met with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Abdullah Al-Yahya.
“This agreement is a milestone in the deepening of our bilateral relations,” Minister Bakari said, emphasising the broader objectives of mobility, strategic partnerships, and enhanced diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
The agreement is expected to facilitate official travel while opening doors for enhanced cooperation in economic, technical, and investment sectors in Benin.
The discussions between the two ministers also highlighted a shared commitment to strengthening Kuwait’s economic footprint in Africa. Both parties underlined the importance of sustainable and mutually beneficial investments, reflecting a growing trend of Africa-Gulf partnerships. Minister Bakari described the agreement as part of “a diplomacy of mobility and strategic partnerships” designed to bolster South-South cooperation and diversify Benin’s international alliances.
This initiative follows Benin’s proactive diplomatic engagements during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, where the country signed similar agreements with states including the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Chad, Antigua and Barbuda, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. In addition, new diplomatic relations were recently established with Trinidad and Tobago and Palau, reinforcing Cotonou’s strategy of cultivating agile and ambitious foreign policy initiatives.
Observers note that these efforts reflect a concerted push by Benin to enhance its international presence, facilitating official movements while positioning the country as a dynamic actor in global diplomacy. By deepening ties with Kuwait, Benin is not only promoting bilateral mobility for officials but also signalling a broader geopolitical outreach to the Gulf region.
Minister Bakari’s visit underscores Benin’s vision of a modern, interconnected diplomacy that seeks to combine pragmatic cooperation with strategic influence, demonstrating the country’s ambition to engage more actively in global economic and diplomatic networks.
About The Author
