Which one of the following African countries is not lan d-locked?

A landlocked country is defined as a sovereign state that lacks direct access to an ocean or sea [t1][t3]. Among the options provided, Benin is the only country that is not landlocked; it is a littoral state in West Africa with a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean's Bight of Benin [t8]. In contrast, Chad is a landlocked state in Central Africa, often referred to as the 'dead heart of Africa' due to its significant distance from the sea [t4][t9]. Mali is a landlocked country located in the interior of West Africa [t2]. Lesotho is a unique landlocked country as it is an enclave entirely surrounded by the territory of South Africa, lacking any coastal access [c4]. Therefore, Benin is the correct answer as it possesses maritime borders, while the others are geographically isolated from the sea.

Sources

1. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/landlocked-countries
2. [2] https://www.britannica.com/topic/landlocked-country
3. [3] https://www.jaincollege.ac.in/blogs/54-countries-in-africa-a-complete-guide-to-regions-capitals
4. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INDIA AND THE GEO-POLITICS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN > p. 64