Rufino d’Almeida, the Prefect of Couffo, completed his second statutory tour of the year on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. The official concluded the series of administrative visits across the department, marking the final stage of his scheduled rounds for the calendar year. These tours serve as a mechanism for the prefectural administration to monitor local governance and infrastructure projects within the region. Rufino d’Almeida coordinated the assessment of municipal operations during the sessions. The completion of this tour finalizes the administrative objectives set for the prefecture for the current period.
Tour Itinerary and Scope
Rufino d’Almeida initiated the statutory tour on 26 October 2026 within the commune of Lalo. This visit served as the starting point for his administrative assessment across the department of Couffo. The official concluded the final stage of his rounds in the commune of Aplahoué. During this last stop, Rufino d’Almeida met with Mayor Hypolite Natabou to evaluate municipal operations and project implementation. These proceedings in Aplahoué effectively ended the scheduled series of prefectural visits for the year.
Revenue Growth and Progress
Prefect Rufino d’Almeida observed positive trends regarding the collection of local funds during his recent administrative rounds. He noted progress in the mobilization of own-source revenues across most visited communes in the department of Couffo. These findings indicate that local authorities successfully increased their internal financial resources throughout the current assessment period. The administrative evaluation focused on how these specific revenue streams support municipal operations and ongoing infrastructure development. By tracking these fiscal improvements, the prefectural administration aims to ensure consistent oversight of regional financial management. The reports generated during the statutory tour confirm that the majority of the communes visited met their internal targets for the calendar year. This development reflects the broader administrative objectives established by the prefecture for the department.
Persistent Social Challenges Identified
Prefect Rufino d’Almeida identified high road mortality, persistent home births, and a resurgence of rape cases as major concerns across the department of Couffo. These issues emerged as recurring themes during his assessment of municipal operations and public welfare.
Discussions held in Lalo on 26 October 2026 addressed specific community challenges, including road safety, school attendance, and the consistent presence of teachers in classrooms. During that same session, local stakeholders and the Prefect reviewed the dynamics of farmer-herder relations.
Meetings conducted in Toviklin focused on a separate set of priorities. Participants evaluated the security situation and recent trends in theft, while also examining the prevalence of sexual violence and home births within the commune. Officials also utilized the visit to Toviklin to formalize the identification of a site designated for the regional market of Couffo.
Regulatory action remains a priority for the prefecture to mitigate conflicts within rural and urban zones. Rufino d’Almeida announced that new measures are planned to regulate the breeding of ruminants. These policies aim to prevent issues related to animal roaming in residential and agricultural areas, which have previously disrupted local activities.
