On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Ouidah City Hall in Benin, Michel St-Croix, Mayor of Cap-Haitien, and Christian Houétchénou, Mayor of Ouidah, in the presence of municipal authorities, diplomatic representatives, and several dignitaries from both countries, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation and twinning between the cities of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, and Ouidah, Benin.

This signing formalizes the rapprochement between two historic cities united by deep ties of memory, culture, and identity. Ouidah occupies an important place in the history of the transatlantic slave trade, while Cap-Haïtien remains one of the principal symbols of the Haitian people's struggle against slavery and for freedom.

Beyond its historical and symbolic significance, this twinning establishes a formal framework for cooperation between the two municipal administrations. It should facilitate the sharing of experiences, bring communities closer together, and enable the implementation of joint initiatives in several areas, including culture, heritage, tourism, education, youth, and local development.

"The signing of this protocol must not remain a mere symbolic act. It must allow our two municipalities to develop concrete projects capable of meeting the needs of our populations. With Ouidah, we want to transform our shared history into genuine cooperation serving the development of our two cities," declared Michel St-Croix.

The Municipal Commission extends its sincere thanks to Mayor Christian Houétchénou, the Municipal Council, and all the people of Ouidah for the warm and fraternal welcome extended to the delegation from Cap-Haïtien. It also thanks Ms. Dominique Brutus, Chargé d’Affaires of Haiti to the Republic of Benin, as well as the entire team at the Embassy of Haiti in Benin, for their support and significant contribution to the success of this mission.

Through this new twinning agreement, the Municipal Commission reaffirms its commitment to strengthening Cap-Haïtien's presence on the international stage and to seeking partnerships that can contribute to the development of the municipality and the improvement of living conditions for its residents.

IH/ iciHaiti