France will return artworks taken from Benin during the colonial era, culture minister Franck Riester said on Monday during his visit to the West African country.

Riester said his country would return the items "in the course of 2020, perhaps at the beginning of 2021" as he met with Benin's President Patrice Talon in Cotonou.

President Emmanuel Macron pledged in 2018 to return 26 artefacts "without delay" in a landmark decision that has piled pressure on other former colonial powers to restore stolen artworks to their countries oforigin.

The pieces – including a royal throne – were seized by French troops over a century ago and have been housed at the Quai Branly museum in Paris.

Benin has welcomed France's decision but has warned against doing so too quickly as it works to build a proper facility to showcase the heritage.

Benin's culture minister Jean-Michel Abimbola told a joint press conference that the two countries had agreed that the artworks would be handed back "in several stages".

He welcomed "the commitment of the French President to return these works" and "the opening of a broader discussion" concerning other artefacts.