Cotonou (French pronunciation:[kɔtɔnu];Fon:Kútɔ̀nú)[2] is the largest city inBenin. Its official population count was 679,012 inhabitants in 2012; however, over two million people live in the larger urban area.[3]
The urban area continues to expand, notably toward the west. The city lies in the southeast of the country, between theAtlantic Ocean andLake Nokoué.[4]
Cotonou is the seat of government in Benin, althoughPorto-Novo is the official capital.
The name "Cotonou" means "by the river of death" in theFon language.[5] At the beginning of the 19th century, Cotonou (then spelled "Kutonou") was a small fishing village, and is thought to have been formally founded by KingGhezo ofDahomey in 1830.[5] It grew as a centre for theslave trade, and laterpalm oil andcotton.[5] In 1851 theFrench Second Republic made a treaty with King Ghezo that allowed them to establish a trading post at Cotonou.[6] During the reign of KingGlele (1858–89), the territory was ceded to theSecond French Empire by a treaty signed in 1878.[7] In 1883, theFrench Navy occupied the city to prevent British conquest of the area.
After Glele's death in 1889, KingBéhanzin unsuccessfully tried to challenge the treaty. The town grew rapidly following the building of the harbour in 1908.[5]
TheOuémé River as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Cotonou
Cotonou is on the coastal strip betweenLake Nokoué and the Atlantic Ocean. The city is cut in two by a canal, the lagoon of Cotonou, dug by the French in 1855. Three bridges are in this area. TheOuémé River flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Cotonou.
Bridge in Cotonou
The city has established transportation infrastructure including air, sea, river (toPorto Novo), and land routes that facilitate trade with its neighborsNigeria,Niger,Burkina Faso andTogo.
Coastal erosion has been noted for several decades. It worsened in 1961 following construction of theNangbeto Dam and deep-water port of Cotonou. A pilot project funded by theUnited Nations Environment Program (UNEP) revealed that in 40 years, the coast to the east of Cotonou had retreated by 400 meters.[9] This erosion has led many people to leave their homes along the coast.[10]
UnderKöppen's climate classification, Cotonou features atropical wet and dry climate, alternating with two rainy seasons (April-July and September–October, totalling 1,000 to 1,300 mm (39 to 51 in) of rain per year) and two dry seasons. In December and January, the city is affected byharmattan winds. Temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year, with the average high temperatures hovering around 30 °C (86 °F), and average low temperatures at around 25 °C (77 °F).[11]
Climate data for Cotonou (1991–2020, extremes 1910–present)
The Autonomous Port of Cotonou is one of the largest in West Africa. The city is connected toParakou in the north by the Benin-Niger railway.Cotonou International Airport provides service to the capitals of the region and to France, as well as the major cities of Benin: Parakou,Kandi,Natitingou,Djougou, andSavé. There are road connections to neighboring countries: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, andTogo. A prevalent mode of transport in the city is the motorcycle-taxi, known locally aszémidjan.[5]
In 2015 a suburban passenger railway line was being developed between Cotonou andPahou.[15]
Important manufactured goods includepalm oil,brewing,textiles, andcement.[16]Motor vehicles andbicycles are assembled, and there aresawmills in the city.Petroleum products,bauxite, andiron are major exports.[17] There are offshore platforms drilling foroil.[18] The city is a centre for the automotive trade, with European brands being sold from vast open-air parking lots. In the past, Citroën assembled cars (for instance, theCitroën 2CV andAmi 8) locally.[19]
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