Renowned media personality Claudy Siar has been appointed as Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Benin on Culture, Media, and National Visibility.

This strategic appointment underscores President Romuald Wadagni’s commitment to leveraging cultural and media assets as pillars of national development. The move positions Siar—a passionate panafricanist and veteran broadcaster—as a key figure in enhancing Benin’s global cultural footprint.

Claudy Siar’s journey to this prestigious role reflects a remarkable shift from international media to serving his homeland. After more than three decades at Radio France Internationale (RFI), where he hosted the legendary Couleurs Tropicales since 1995, Siar departed earlier this year. His exit coincided with programmatic updates and contract negotiations, which Siar publicly linked to ideological differences with RFI’s management.

The termination of his iconic show—Couleurs Tropicales—marked the end of an era in Francophone African radio. Siar attributed his departure to his uncompromising panafricanist stance and outspoken critiques of Western policies, while RFI cited a strategic pivot toward new musical programming formats.

With over 31 years of global broadcasting experience, Siar has now transitioned to a new venture with NewWorld TV. His upcoming projects include the launch of two innovative channels: NewWorld Mix and NewWorld Muzik, designed to amplify African voices in the digital media space.