Matéri
Matéri is a town, arrondissement and commune in the Atakora Department of north-western Benin. The commune covers an area of 4740 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 113,958 people.
Geography
Matéri is a commune, arrondissement, and town in the Atacora Department of north-western Benin. It covers approximately 1 740 km² and had a population of 113 958 inhabitants as of the 2013 census.The commune is subdivided into six arrondissements: Dassari, Gouandé, Matéri, Nodi, Tantéga, and Tchanhoun-Cossi; these include 55 villages in total. The terrain is relatively flat with elevations generally between 150-250 metres.
Climate
Matéri has a sudano-guinean climate with two principal seasons: a rainy season from May to October and a dry season from November to April. Daily maximum temperatures during the dry season can reach 34-40 °C, and harmattan winds are common from November to February. Rainfall is highest in August and September.Population and Language
The population is ethnically and linguistically diverse. Major languages include Biali and Para-Biali, in addition to French as the official administrative language. The commune also includes communities such as the Sihibé, Sakwebe, and other groups with ancestral origins traced to regions now in Burkina Faso.Economy
Agriculture forms the backbone of Matéri’s economy. Most households engage in subsistence farming of cereals, tubers and legumes such as niébé and arachide.Livestock, small-scale fishing on Pendjari tributaries, and gathering of wild products are also practiced.
Recent development projects include the establishment of agricultural processing units, construction of storage facilities, improvement of irrigated land for rice cultivation, and boreholes for drinking water in several arrondissements via the FNDA and other government programs.
Governance
The current mayor is Robert Wimbo Kassa. Matéri is one of the communes beneficiary of the Project of Development of Irrigated Perimeters in Rural Areas since October 2020.Issues and Challenges
The commune faces challenges related to youth alcohol consumption, with an increasing number of liquor outlets in villages noted in 2025 by local authorities.Security concerns with cross-border transporters and traders have been reported in some arrondissements, particularly near border zones since 2021.