Bénin Officials Demand Bribes for Proces-Verbaux Signature

• Neighborhood chiefs and adjacent landowners in Abomey-Calavi, Bénin, are allegedly demanding money before participating in land boundary demarcation procedures.
• The procès-verbaux signed during these procedures serve as official records of the process, but some officials may be compromising their integrity by soliciting bribes.
• Anti-corruption laws in Bénin prohibit such practices, and any attempts to solicit bribes could be considered a breach of these laws.

The mayor, Nathanaël Koty, has been informed about this issue and has alerted the entire population and involved parties.

In the department of Atlantique, specifically in Abomey-Calavi, a disturbing trend has emerged where some neighborhood chiefs and adjacent landowners are demanding money before participating in land boundary demarcation procedures. This involves signing related procès-verbaux, which are official documents recording the process. The mayor, Nathanaël Koty, has been informed about this issue and has alerted the entire population and involved parties.

The exact nature of these demands is unclear, but it is alleged that some officials are soliciting bribes in exchange for participation in land boundary demarcation procedures.

Land surveying regulations in Bénin are governed by specific laws and guidelines, including the Code Foncier et Domanial (CFD) of August 14, 2013, and subsequent legal texts. A National Land Programme was launched in 2024 to establish a nationwide cadastre. The procès-verbaux signed during land boundary demarcation procedures serve as official records of the process, ensuring that all parties involved have agreed to the boundaries. In theory, these documents should be free from any undue influence or corruption. However, the recent allegations suggest that some officials may be compromising this integrity by soliciting bribes.

The anti-corruption laws in Bénin are designed to prevent such practices and ensure transparency in public transactions. These include the Criminal Code, Law No. 2011-20 on Combating Corruption, and Law No. 2020-09 on the High Commission for the Prevention of Corruption. Any attempts by local officials to solicit bribes for participation in land boundary demarcation procedures could be considered a breach of these laws.

This development has significant implications for the people of Bénin, particularly those involved in land transactions. The integrity of land surveying procedures is crucial to ensuring that property rights are respected and protected. If officials are soliciting bribes, it not only undermines the rule of law but also creates an uneven playing field where some individuals may be unfairly disadvantaged.

Lawyers should be aware of this development and advise their clients to report any attempts by local officials to solicit bribes for participation in land boundary demarcation procedures. This could help prevent further corruption and ensure that land surveying regulations are upheld.

Lawyers should be aware of this development and advise clients to report any attempts by local officials to solicit bribes for participation in land boundary demarcation procedures, as this could indicate a breach of anti-corruption laws.

Source: Original reporting via Environnement/PROPOSÉ À LA LECTURE