Cobly (also spelled ëâ¯Kobliâ¯û) is a town, arrondissement and commune in the Atakora Department of northâÂÂwestern Benin.
The commune covers an area of about 825â¯kmò and had a population of 67,603 at the 2013 census.
The town of Cobly lies near the countryâÂÂs northâÂÂwestern 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.
The commune lies within the Gourma peneplain, with altitudes ranging between approximately 128â¯m and 472â¯m above sea level. The climate is of the Sudanian type: a dry season runs roughly from November to April and a rainy season from May to October. Vegetation is dominated by wooded savanna with occasional gallery forest strips; local plantations of teak, cashew (anacardier) and eucalyptus are reported.
There are no major permanent rivers in the commune; many seasonal streams run during the rainy season and dry out by the dry season. Soils include ferruginous indurated soils, ferruginous leached soils, littleâÂÂevolved soils and lateritic crustâÂÂcovered soils.
The commune is divided into four arrondissements: Cobly, Datori, Kountori and Tapoga. These arrondissements themselves include numerous villages and urban districts.
At the 2013 census, the population of the commune was 67,603, yielding a density of approximately 82â¯inhabitants perâ¯kmò (based on 825â¯kmò). 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.
Traditional beliefs remain predominant in the area.
The commune has been part of decentralisation reforms in BeninâÂÂs local governance, with the election of Mayor Séraphinâ¯Nambima in June 2020 for a fiveâÂÂyear mandate. The commune has also been subject to governmental attention for development and infrastructure due to its peripheral location.
Agriculture is the primary economic activity in the commune. The main food crops grown include sorghum, cowpeas, rice, maize, yams, peanuts and voandzou. LivestockâÂÂraising of cattle, goats, pigs and poultry also contributes to livelihoods. 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.
Trade, transportation and handicraft are secondary activities. 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.
The commune has benefited from microâÂÂphotovoltaic power plants since Februaryâ¯2020 in Kountori and other localities, improving access to electricity and water through the installation of water towers.
A socioâÂÂeconomic study of malnutrition among children aged 0âÂÂ23â¯months in the Atakora region included Cobly among the communes studied.
Road infrastructure includes rural tracks and in 2023, the Fonds dâÂÂInvestissementâÂÂAgriculture (FIâÂÂAgri) phaseâ¯IV launched works of basâÂÂfonds development and rehabilitation of 12.1â¯km of rural track in Cobly (NanagandéâÂÂYimpisseriâÂÂTapoga) as part of larger departmental infrastructure.
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 âÂÂfishâÂÂpond with cowriesâ within the commune.
Security is a growing concern in the border region. In Februaryâ¯2023, a nightâÂÂtime curfew (21:00âÂÂ06:00) was imposed in six localities of Cobly to curb motorcycle usage and improve public order in the face of spillover from neighbouring regions.