The High Council of Kings of Benin (French: Haut Conseil des rois du Bénin), sometimes simply referred to as the High Council of Kings (French: Haut Conseil des Rois) or HCRB, is a non-governmental organisation that represents the various non-sovereign monarchies based in Benin.
[1] The sub-national monarchies in Benin do not have official, political authority within the republic, but they hold influence within their local area and are often courted by politicians for support.
[2] The HCRB often released statements on political issues within Benin, such as in 2015 when it called on the government "to act in a spirit of responsibility and sacrifice" following violent incidents in May.
[3][4][5] The group also advocates for further legal recognition of traditional authorities in Benin,[3][5] and has called on the Beninese government to create clear rules that must be met before someone may be recognised as a king, such as a kingdom having roots in history.
[6][1] Yèto Kandji also claimed that the HCRB was created to advocate for development within communities in Benin, such as increasing access to safe drinkable water in local villages.
[9] In December 2021, the HCRB released a statement calling for a suspension of the enthronement of a new king of Sèmère, of which there were two pretenders - Issiaka Doli Yaya and Chagam Arouna Abdou Karim Tcholouféi 2.