Cotonou is the biggest city in Benin.
Benin ( [ bᵻˈniːn , _ - ˈnɪn ] or - ; [ bɛˈniːn ] ; Bénin [ benɛ̃ ] ) , officially the Republic of Benin ( République du Bénin ) and formerly Dahomey , is a country in West Africa . The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo , but the seat of government is in Cotonou , the country 's largest city and economic capital .