Municipalities and mayors

Since decentralisation was implemented in 2003, Benin has been organised into 77 municipalities, local authorities with legal personality and financial autonomy, spread across 12 departments.

Municipal council and mayor

Each municipality is run by an elected municipal council. The mayor, the municipality's executive, prepares and implements the council's decisions and is also the civil registrar.

Municipal responsibilities

• Civil status: births, marriages, deaths.
• Land use planning, town planning and roads.
• Pre-school and primary education, basic healthcare.
• Hygiene, sanitation and the environment.
• Local economic development and markets.