Athiémé

Athiémé [a.tje.mɛ] is a town and arrondissement located in the Mono Department of Benin. The commune covers an area of 220 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 56,483 people.^[1][2]

Athiémè
Town and commune
Access to the new bridge (2016)
Athiémè Location in Benin
Coordinates: 6°35′N 1°40′E
Country	Benin
Department	Mono Department
Government
• Mayor	Saturnin Kokou DANSOU
Area
• Total	220 km2 (85 sq mi)
Population  (2013)
• Total	56,483

Geography

Athiémé is located in the south-western part of Benin, in the Mono basin, close to the border with Togo. The Mono River, one of the region’s principal waterways, flows near the commune and plays a central role in agriculture, fishing and seasonal flooding dynamics. ^[3] The commune shares boundaries with Comé to the south, Lokossa to the north and east, and the Togolese prefectures of Agou and Yoto across the river to the west. The landscape is characterized by low plateaus and floodplains with sandy and hydromorphic soils.

Administrative structure

Athiémé is one of the six communes of the Mono Department. It is administratively composed of five arrondissements:

• Athiémé (urban center)
• Zohouri
• Kpinnou
• Segbegan
• Kpinnou-Affomadjè

These arrondissements contain several villages and city districts which form the basic local administrative structures. ^[4]

Demographics

According to the 2013 census, Athiémé had a population of 56,483, with women representing slightly more than half of the inhabitants. ^[5]

Athiémé is ethnically diverse, including: Sahouè and Kotafon (majority groups), Fon, Mina, Adja, and minorities from neighboring Togo. Languages spoken include Sahouè, Fon, Mina, and French (official language).

Economy

The economy of Athiémé is strongly linked to the Mono River. Agriculture represents the primary activity, with major crops including: maize, cassava, rice (grown in floodplains), palm oil, market-garden products Fishing is a key economic and cultural activity, practiced year-round but especially during seasonal flood cycles. ^[6] Cross-border trade with Togo—mainly agricultural produce, textiles, and household goods—is widespread, especially through informal river crossing points.

Culture

Athiémé hosts traditional festivals linked to river spirits, ancestral veneration, and agricultural cycles. The Sahouè cultural identity is reflected in traditional dances, fabric weaving, and palm-wine rituals. ^[7] The commune is also known for its traditional chieftaincies (chefferies locales), including the seat of local kings whose influence remains active in social cohesion and customary conflict mediation.

Transport

Athiémé is accessible via the national road network linking Lokossa to Comé and Grand-Popo. Rural roads connect the central arrondissement to surrounding villages, though many become difficult to navigate during the rainy season due to Mono River flooding.

Public services

The town hosts several primary and secondary schools as well as health centers, including the Athiémé communal health center. Access to drinking water has improved thanks to boreholes and small water-supply systems supported by national development programs. ^[8]