Minister Mitchell Attends Historic CARICOM-Benin Ministerial
13th January 2025 Cotonou, Republic of Benin — The Honourable Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the CARICOM-Benin Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 8 January 2025. He was accompanied by Director General, Ambassador Jerusa Ali, and Foreign Service Officer Leslie St Albord II. Hosted by Beninois Foreign Minister H.E. Shegun Bakari, the meeting marked a renewed push towards strengthening ties between the Caribbean and Africa, with discussions focusing on shared priorities including security in Haiti; trade and investment; education; tourism; climate change; and shared cultural heritage.
Minister Mitchell (L) with Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Benin’s Foreign Minister.
The meeting underscored the deep historical connection between the Caribbean and Benin, once part of the Kingdom of Benin, a significant point of origin for many Afro-Caribbean ancestors. These shared roots provided a powerful context for the discussions, highlighting the cultural and emotional significance of the partnership for all Afro-descendant populations.
Addressing the crisis in Haiti, both Benin and The Bahamas reaffirmed their commitment to the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM). Benin re-pledged its readiness to contribute land troops once organisational conditions allowed, at the same time The Bahamas, which has already taken a leadership role, particularly in maritime security, announced that it has fully deployed in this theatre.
The meeting also focused on reparatory justice for descendants of African slaves and fostering stronger ties with the diaspora. Benin has joined Ghana in enacting legislation to facilitate citizenship for Afro-descendants, which is its new commitment to reconnecting African communities to their ancestral homelands. This partnership aligns with The Bahamas’ broader support for reparations for Afro-descendants across the Americas and Africa, based on justice and cultural restoration.
Discussions also explored opportunities for economic cooperation, with a focus on improving accessibility between the Caribbean and Africa. Minister Mitchell, when interviewed by France’s international station France24, stated that enabling direct flights between the regions is a key first step toward fostering greater interaction and understanding, with the expectation that trade and broader economic engagement will naturally follow. These measures are part of a larger CARICOM agenda aimed at deepening ties in trade, education, and cultural exchange with Africa and other non-traditional partners.
In the sidelines of the Ministerial, The Bahamas and Benin signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Political and Diplomatic Consultations. The MoU provides a blueprint for strengthening bilateral ties through annual consultations at the technical level. In 2024, The Bahamas established diplomatic relations with Benin and five other African countries: Seychelles, Malawi, Togo, Kenya and Algeria. In 2025, the Ministry intends to engage in diplomatic and technical level consultations with these countries including Benin.
The Bahamas’s participation in Benin preceded Majority Rule Day on 10 January, a historic milestone that commemorates the election of the first Black-majority government on 10 January 1967. This event serves as a reminder of the empowerment and progress of Black people in The Bahamas and across the diaspora. Following the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Mitchell promptly returned to Nassau to celebrate this significant occasion in his native Fox Hill, a community central the African, emancipation, majority rule stories.
END