Comè

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Comè
Commune and city
Comè is located in Benin
Comè
Comè
Location in Benin
Coordinates: 6°24′N 1°53′E / 6.400°N 1.883°E / 6.400; 1.883
Country Benin
DepartmentMono Department
Government
 • MayorCoffi Bernard Adanhokpe
Area
 • Total
163 km2 (63 sq mi)
Elevation
17 m (56 ft)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total
33,507
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

Comè [kɔ.mɛ] is a town and arrondissement located in the Mono Department of Benin. The commune covers an area of 163 square kilometres and as of 2012 had a population of 33,507 people.[1] It was home to a refugee camp for Togolese refugees until it was closed in 2006.[2]

Comè is home to a constituent monarchy, currently led by Togbé Akati II Djidjilévo. Djidjilévo claimed the kingdom covers 57 villages, primarily those of the Watchi community.[3]

Geography

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Comè is located in the south-western part of Benin, north of the coastal communes of Grand-Popo and west of Bopa and Lokossa. The commune includes lagoon-adjacent areas near Lake Ahémé and lies within the Mono River watershed. [4] The terrain consists of sandy-gravel plains, hydromorphic soils, and low-lying basins suitable for market gardening.

Administrative structure

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Comè is divided into several arrondissements, commonly listed as:

  • Comè (urban center)
  • Akodéha
  • Ouèdèmè-Pédah
  • Agatogbo
  • Oumako

Each arrondissement contains multiple villages and urban districts, forming the local administrative subdivisions. [5]

Demographics

[edit]

The commune had a population of 58,602 in 2013, up from 33,507 in 2002. [6] Major ethnolinguistic groups include the Pédah, Xwla, Sahouè, and Fon communities. Languages spoken include Pédah, Xwla, Sahouè, Fon, Goun, Mina and French.

History

[edit]

Comè hosted one of the largest refugee camps in Benin during the 2005–2006 Togolese refugee crisis, welcoming thousands of people fleeing political unrest in Togo. The camp was officially closed in June 2006 after voluntary repatriation and UNHCR resettlement operations. [7] The commune also maintains a **traditional monarchy**, with Togbé Akati II Djidjilévo serving as a recognized community leader. The monarchy claims authority over approximately **57 villages**, many associated with the Watchi (Ouatchi) cultural group. [8]


Economy

[edit]

The economy of Comè is diversified and influenced by its strategic position between coastal and inland trade corridors. Key economic activities include:

  • fishing in lagoon and lake areas
  • agriculture (cassava, maize, tomatoes, palm oil)
  • market gardening, especially in Ouèdèmè and Akodéha
  • palm oil extraction and transformation
  • small-scale trade, boosted by proximity to the Comè–Grand-Popo corridor

Fishing communities, particularly the Pédah and Xwla groups, play a major role in the commune’s economic identity. [9]

Culture

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Comè is known for:

  • traditional lagoon festivals
  • Pédah and Xwla dance traditions
  • water-spirit rituals linked to Lake Ahémé
  • a significant Vodun heritage

The monarchy continues to influence cultural cohesion, local ceremonies, conflict mediation, and preservation of customary law. [10]

Transport

[edit]

Comè lies on the national route connecting **Grand-Popo – Comè – Lokossa – Bohicon**, making it a key junction in the Mono Department. Rural roads connect the commune’s fishing and agricultural villages to the main urban center, though some become difficult during the rainy season.


Public services

[edit]

The commune hosts:

  • several public primary and secondary schools,
  • a communal health center,
  • water supply infrastructure (boreholes, piped systems),
  • market facilities serving the broader Mono region. [11]


References

[edit]
  1. ^ "World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on January 11, 2013.
  2. ^ "Benin closes Come camp for Togolese refugees". Archived from the original on 2019-03-02. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  3. ^ "L'événement Précis – Sa Majesté Togbé Akati II Djidjilévo, Roi de Comè:« La gestion du Bénin n'est pas encore ce que nous avons souhaité»" (in French). Archived from the original on 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  4. ^ "Département du Mono – aperçu géographique". Voyages Modestes. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Structure administrative de la commune de Comè". Ministère de la Décentralisation. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Comè – Population Statistics". CityPopulation.de. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Benin closes Comè camp for Togolese refugees". UNHCR. 22 June 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Sa Majesté Togbé Akati II Djidjilévo, Roi de Comè". L’Événement Précis. 2022-08-29. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Études halieutiques dans les zones lacustres du Mono". HAL Open Science. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Cultures du Mono – Patrimoine immatériel". Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Programme eau potable Mono". Benin Water Initiative. Retrieved 13 November 2025.

6°24′N 1°53′E / 6.400°N 1.883°E / 6.400; 1.883


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