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Cobly
Place in Atakora Department, Benin From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Cobly (also spelled « Kobli ») is a town, arrondissement and commune in the Atakora Department of north‑western Benin.
The commune covers an area of about 825 km² and had a population of 67,603 at the 2013 census. [1]
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Geography
The town of Cobly lies near the country’s north‑western border, facing Togo to the west. Communally it is bounded to the north by the commune of Matéri, to the south by Boukoumbé, and to the east by Tanguiéta. [1]
Relief, climate and vegetation
The commune lies within the Gourma peneplain, with altitudes ranging between approximately 128 m and 472 m above sea level. [2] The climate is of the Sudanian type: a dry season runs roughly from November to April and a rainy season from May to October. [3] Vegetation is dominated by wooded savanna with occasional gallery forest strips; local plantations of teak, cashew (anacardier) and eucalyptus are reported. [2]
Hydrography and soils
There are no major permanent rivers in the commune; many seasonal streams run during the rainy season and dry out by the dry season. [3] Soils include ferruginous indurated soils, ferruginous leached soils, little‑evolved soils and lateritic crust‑covered soils. [2]
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Administration and demography
Administrative divisions
The commune is divided into four arrondissements: Cobly, Datori, Kountori and Tapoga. [1] These arrondissements themselves include numerous villages and urban districts.
Population
At the 2013 census, the population of the commune was 67,603, yielding a density of approximately 82 inhabitants per km² (based on 825 km²). [1] Ethnic groups present in the commune include the Gangamba, Kountémba, Gourmantchéba, Bètammaribè, Tchokossi, Peulh and Dendi peoples. Languages spoken include French (official), Ditammari (Tammari), Gourmantché and Berba. [2]
Languages and religion
Traditional beliefs remain predominant in the area. [3]
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History
The commune has been part of decentralisation reforms in Benin’s local governance, with the election of Mayor Séraphin Nambima in June 2020 for a five‑year mandate. [1] The commune has also been subject to governmental attention for development and infrastructure due to its peripheral location. [4]
Economy
Agriculture and livestock
Agriculture is the primary economic activity in the commune. The main food crops grown include sorghum, cowpeas, rice, maize, yams, peanuts and voandzou. [5] Livestock‑raising of cattle, goats, pigs and poultry also contributes to livelihoods. [5] A 2025 report highlighted that climate shocks and security concerns are affecting local farming: many farmers in Cobly delay field work or shorten the day because of insecurity. [6]
Commerce, crafts and infrastructure
Trade, transportation and handicraft are secondary activities. [1] Under the agricultural development programme FNDA, infrastructure such as storage warehouses, drying areas and processing units have been established for rice and other products in Cobly. [7]
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Infrastructure and services
Energy and water supply
The commune has benefited from micro‑photovoltaic power plants since February 2020 in Kountori and other localities, improving access to electricity and water through the installation of water towers. [8]
Education and health
A socio‑economic study of malnutrition among children aged 0–23 months in the Atakora region included Cobly among the communes studied. [9]
Transport
Road infrastructure includes rural tracks and in 2023, the Fonds d’Investissement‑Agriculture (FI‑Agri) phase IV launched works of bas‑fonds development and rehabilitation of 12.1 km of rural track in Cobly (Nanagandé‑Yimpisseri‑Tapoga) as part of larger departmental infrastructure. [10]
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Tourism and heritage
Sites of local interest include the sacred forests of Yonnakpiti and Datori, the mountain Yimpognanmou (a historical exchange site of arms during colonial era) and a “fish‑pond with cowries” within the commune. [2]
Security and challenges
Security is a growing concern in the border region. In February 2023, a night‑time curfew (21:00‑06:00) was imposed in six localities of Cobly to curb motorcycle usage and improve public order in the face of spillover from neighbouring regions. [11]
References
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