Cobly

{{Infobox settlement   |name = Cobly |other_name = |native_name =  |nickname = |settlement_type =Commune, arrondissement and town |motto =  |image_skyline = Kobli2.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Benin |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_mapsize = |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Benin  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Benin}} |subdivision_type1 = Department |subdivision_name1 = Atakora Department |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = | |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Séraphin Nambima |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |established_title =  |established_date =  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =825  |area_land_km2 =   |population_as_of = 2013 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 67603 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 =auto  |timezone =WAT |utc_offset = +1 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|10|29|32|N|0|59|59|E|region:BJ|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m =  |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''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. <ref name="CoopDecent">[https://cooperation.decentralisation.gouv.bj/commune/cobly/ “COBLY | Plateforme de gestion de la coopération décentralisée”] (in French). Ministry of Decentralisation, Benin.</ref>

==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. <ref name="CoopDecent"/> ===Relief, climate and vegetation=== The commune lies within the Gourma peneplain, with altitudes ranging between approximately 128 m and 472 m above sea level. <ref name="GouvRelief">[https://www.gouv.bj/article/962/destination-benin---cobly---discrete-mais-imposante-relief-vegetation/ “Destination Bénin : Cobly, discrète mais imposante par son relief et sa végétation”] (in French). Government of the Republic of Benin.</ref> The climate is of the Sudanian type: a dry season runs roughly from November to April and a rainy season from May to October. <ref name="ANCBGeo">[https://www.ancb.bj/index.php/association-2/atacora/cobly.html “Cobly | ANCB”] (in French). Association Nationale des Communes du Bénin.</ref> Vegetation is dominated by wooded savanna with occasional gallery forest strips; local plantations of teak, cashew (anacardier) and eucalyptus are reported. <ref name="GouvRelief"/> ===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. <ref name="ANCBGeo"/> Soils include ferruginous indurated soils, ferruginous leached soils, little‑evolved soils and lateritic crust‑covered soils. <ref name="GouvRelief"/>

== Administration and demography == === Administrative divisions === The commune is divided into four arrondissements: Cobly, Datori, Kountori and Tapoga. <ref name="CoopDecent"/> 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). <ref name="CoopDecent"/> 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. <ref name="GouvRelief"/> === Languages and religion === Traditional beliefs remain predominant in the area. <ref name="ANCBGeo"/>

== 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. <ref name="CoopDecent"/> The commune has also been subject to governmental attention for development and infrastructure due to its peripheral location. <ref name="GouvAttention">[https://www.gouv.bj/article/1117/cobly-fait-lobjet-dattention-particuliere-de-la-part-du-gouvernement/ “Cobly fait l’objet d’attention particulière de la part du gouvernement”] (in French). Government of the Republic of Benin.</ref>

==Economy== === Agriculture and livestock === thumb|left|250px|Local woman in Kobli Agriculture is the primary economic activity in the commune. The main food crops grown include sorghum, cowpeas, rice, maize, yams, peanuts and voandzou. <ref name="Memoire">[https://www.memoireonline.com/07/09/2413/Demarche-participative-dans-la-conduite-des-actions-de-developpement-au-Benin--cas-de-trois-communes--Nikki-Boukombe-et-Cobly.html “Démarche participative dans la conduite des actions de développement au Bénin : cas de trois communes, Nikki, Boukombé et Cobly”] (in French). Mémoire Online.</ref> Livestock‑raising of cattle, goats, pigs and poultry also contributes to livelihoods. <ref name="Memoire"/> 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. <ref name="AgriImpact">[https://agri-impact.bj/2025/06/20/agriculture-et-insecurite-a‑cobly‑entre‑inquietude‑et‑resilience‑les‑agriculteurs‑tiennent-bon/ “Agriculture et insécurité à Cobly : entre inquiétude et résilience, les agriculteurs tiennent bon”] (in French). Agri‑Impact.</ref> === Commerce, crafts and infrastructure === Trade, transportation and handicraft are secondary activities. <ref name="CoopDecent"/> 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. <ref name="GouvAgri">[https://www.gouv.bj/article/3029/promotion-entrepreneuriat-exploitations-agricoles-fnda-fait-heureux-materi-cobly/ “Promotion de l’entrepreneuriat et des exploitations agricoles : le FNDA fait des heureux à Matéri et Cobly”] (in French). Government of the Republic of Benin.</ref>

== 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. <ref name="GouvElectr">[https://www.gouv.bj/article/510/electrification-rurale-mise-en-service-des-micro‑centrales‑photovoltaïques‑dans‑les‑communes‑de‑cobly‑boukoumbe‑et-ke‑rou/ “Électrification rurale : Mise en service des micro centrales photovoltaïques dans les communes de Cobly, Boukoumbé et Kérou”] (in French). Government of the Republic of Benin.</ref> === 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. <ref name="Malnutrition">[https://afrsj.com/index.php/AfricanScientificJournal/article/view/716 “Déterminants socioéconomiques de la malnutrition chez les enfants de 0 à 23 mois dans l’Atacora au nord du Bénin”] (in French). African Scientific Journal.</ref> === 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. <ref name="GouvFI">[https://www.gouv.bj/article/2140/fonds-investissement-agriculture-travaux-construction-barrages-rehabilitation-pistes-rurales-dans-atacora-donga-lances/ “Fonds d’Investissement‑Agriculture : travaux de construction de barrages et de réhabilitation de pistes rurales dans l’Atacora et la Donga”] (in French). Government of the Republic of Benin.</ref>

== 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. <ref name="GouvRelief"/>

== 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. <ref name="CouvreFeu">[https://icilome.com/2023/02/benin‑couvre‑feu‑a‑cobly‑et‑materi‑au‑nord‑du‑pays/ “Bénin – Couvre‑feu à Cobly et Matéri au nord du pays”] (in French). IciLome.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Communes of Benin Category:Populated places in the Atakora Department Category:Arrondissements of Benin