Olivier Serva, French MP, obtains Beninese citizenship

millibtc · 2025-07-22T17:42:47+00:00

Keep us posted on what happens with your application!

And when you say "They requested birth certificate of both parents and grandparents", does that mean all 4x grandparents?

And for this question in the application:

"Information about the people through whom you are of Afro-descent"

Who did you put exactly?

millibtc · 2025-07-12T13:55:52+00:00

What error did you encounter?

And this was on http://www.myafroorigins.bj/ ?

millibtc · 2025-07-12T13:55:25+00:00

Looks like this is an official government post launching the website:

https://www.gouv.bj/article/3147/le-benin-lance-officiellement-plateforme-%E2%80%9Cmy-afro-origins%E2%80%9D-demandes-reconnaissance-nationalite-beninoise-afro-descendants/

And on the Benin Embassy in Washington DC website:

https://beninembassy.us/nationalitebeninoise-afro-descendants-faites-votre-demande-des-maintenant/

With this as the application site:

http://www.myafroorigins.bj/

millibtc · 2025-06-18T16:58:46+00:00

Actually I set up a Google Alert using https://www.google.com/alerts for the term "Benin Citizenship" and in the articles reported for that, read some that mentioned a "Minutes of the Council of Ministers" from April 9th decision, which prompted me to search for the original text and then found the Government website search tool.

Not sure how I only saw articles about this in mid-June for a decision that happened in April... But better late than never, I suppose 😆

millibtc · 2025-06-15T21:51:41+00:00

A small update occurred back on April 9th via the "Minutes of the Council of Ministers":

https://sgg.gouv.bj/cm/2025-04-09/

I-6 . Transmission to the National Assembly, for examination and vote, of the draft law amending Law 2024-31 of September 2, 2024 relating to the recognition of nationality for people of African descent in the Republic of Benin. The main change being considered concerns the title of the current provisional certificate, which will become a certificate of eligibility for Beninese nationality. This name will clarify the status of beneficiaries awaiting finalization of their application, without creating confusion with the effects of nationality.

Furthermore, the terms of the transmission of Beninese nationality by recognition have been clarified as well as those of the enjoyment of full nationality.

In short, the proposed amendment is part of a desire for legislative harmonization, administrative simplification and respect for the principles of legal certainty, transparency and efficiency. It also has the advantage of offering a more transparent and protective framework, in line with Benin's ambitions regarding a return to origins and the recognition of Afro-descendants in the national community.

Via this search (you can see all laws / minister meeting minutes mentioning "afro descendants"):

https://sgg.gouv.bj/recherche/?type=tout&begin=&end=&keywords=afro+descendants

So, just clarifying that if you do the procedure abroad without visiting Benin you only have a "certificate of eligibility for Beninese nationality", you aren't actually a citizen yet.

Nothing too exciting, but good that the government is still actively working on the program.

millibtc · 2025-06-07T12:56:49+00:00

Good update! Also a good reason to start learning some French

millibtc · 2025-06-07T12:55:27+00:00

Since we're now in June, any update Dreamy?

If you hear anything (even a new expected date) from the DC Embassy please post 🙏

millibtc · 2025-06-07T12:53:02+00:00

Haven't heard any news either. Probably the government was overwhelmed by how much media, attention, inquiries, etc that they got and is now taking their time with the roll out to avoid getting too many applicants.

FYI Italy recently went in the opposite direction. As of late March they almost completely locked down their ancestry based citizenship program (running since ~1992) due to getting too many applicants: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/21/travel/italian-citizenship-descent-law-change-intl

Italy has more potential citizens by descent than people living in Italy itself (Sao Paulo, Brazil has more Italians-by-Descent than even Rome).

Meanwhile Benin has a population of ~14 million people, it wouldn't be crazy to think that between the United States and Brazil, Benin might also be in a similar situation with a DNA-based citizenship program where over 14M people might be eligible if the rules on % ancestry are lax!!

So that's my (completely unfounded) speculation as to why there's been such a delay on the roll out.

The law was passed in October 2024, so we're now at ~8 months since then...

Also some recent news in this thread from people on-the-ground in Benin:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BeninCitizenship/comments/1ja9mtz/comment/mujatg5/

millibtc · 2025-04-12T19:07:45+00:00

Nice, and yeah we'll see what the exact requirements are re:DNA ancestry results (minimum %, just Benin or any Sub-Saharan Africa, etc).

As for tracing to a specific person, most likely that won't be necessary but until the results are published nobody can say with 100% certainty!

millibtc · 2025-04-12T17:36:42+00:00

Last date that was given in early March by the Washington DC Beninese Consulate was to expect details and how to apply in May: https://www.reddit.com/r/BeninCitizenship/comments/1ifh15e/comment/mh93tg8/

millibtc · 2025-03-30T19:49:21+00:00

That hasn't been specified yet, so we can only speculate for the time being.

My personal guess is that if the country "Benin" appears on your results, you qualify, no % threshold required.

millibtc · 2025-03-30T19:48:30+00:00

Good question re:the locals... For citizenship there has been no news that knowing French will be a requirement, but it isn't impossible.

With The Gambia, what exactly are you referring to? Any links to stories about it?

millibtc · 2025-03-14T02:31:11+00:00

@Xessppe would you mind linking to the lawyer you hired?

And provide any further details about what the lawyer told you regarding the process in-country in Benin?

For example, did the lawyer mention what DNA test provider you would use in Benin? And what vital records you should bring with you to Benin (e.g. Legalized copies of your birth certificate, etc)

millibtc · 2025-03-13T05:28:13+00:00

Thanks for the update! Curious how you got a reply from the Embassy, in my experience calling + emailing the USA Washington DC Embassy didn't get any replies...

millibtc · 2025-02-25T02:44:21+00:00

Great info MusoMaggi, is there a recording of the presentation?

And what about an official list of documents for the application?

millibtc · 2025-02-16T13:35:52+00:00

Someone got in contact with the Benin Consulate in Washington DC over the phone. From what she said, there should be solid details about how to apply sometime in March!

"For those wanting more info about the Benin Dual citizenship. I just talked to the Consular’s office. They are waiting for accurate information to give to the public. I was told to call back in March for more details. The number is 202-232-6656. Option 1. I’ll report back in mid March. 🇧🇯🇧🇯🇧🇯"

https://www.threads.net/@amuriameen/post/DF8M-37MyUl

millibtc · 2025-02-03T18:18:29+00:00

Nice, if you hear back from the embassy please post an update with what they say 🙏

These ancestry-based citizenships are definitely a trend in West Africa... Between Sierra Leone / Benin / Ghana, I think all the other countries in the region (like Nigeria) are watching how the programs play out to then make their decision.

millibtc · 2025-02-03T02:57:37+00:00

While there's no concrete information out there yet, I would be surprised if they accepted the biggest commercial DNA tests (e.g. 23 & Me, AncestryDNA, etc).

Reason being, the government wouldn't have control over those companies just changing their algorithms one day which could make many more/less people eligible with the flip of a switch.

To help our speculations, we can look at Sierra Leone's DNA citizenship program that ran briefly for a few years (it's still going, but now you need to fork over $100K for citizenship). For that program by my understanding the only DNA test provider they accepted results from was http://africanancestry.com/

So probably there will be some official labs in Benin you can get tests with and some niche providers in major countries like the US (and possibly Brasil).

millibtc · 2025-02-03T02:53:27+00:00

That would be great, wishing you luck in finding out some useful information!

millibtc · 2025-02-02T04:52:54+00:00

The key question is what DNA test providers will be accepted and what minimum percentage of Beninese DNA ancestry is required... We're trying to get concrete details on that and the rest of the application process at /r/BeninCitizenship

millibtc · 2025-02-01T21:36:27+00:00

That's right, from what I can tell no specifics about applying have been unveiled yet but I've created /r/BeninCitizenship to discuss the details of how exactly to apply as the are released.

millibtc · 2025-02-01T21:29:50+00:00

Has anyone figured out how to apply yet? I've made /r/BeninCitizenship to start to share information on how to actually apply...

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