Ten years after taking office, outgoing Beninese President Patrice Talon on Thursday delivered a farewell message to the nation ahead of handing over power to his successor, Romuald Wadagni.
Talon’s successor won the presidential election in the first round with 94.27% of the vote.
Just days before the inauguration ceremony, Talon addressed the Beninese people in what marked the closing chapter of a decade in power, following an electoral transition whose regularity was endorsed by the constitutional court.
“As I prepare to leave office, I would like to thank you wholeheartedly and tell you how proud I am of you for the demanding path we dared to take together over the past ten years,” Talon said, referring to the “challenges overcome, the reforms implemented and the major projects launched to strengthen our state.”
A businessman before entering politics, Talon came to power in 2016 and went on to leave a lasting mark on Benin’s political landscape through a series of institutional and economic reforms.
His presidency was characterised by large-scale infrastructure programmes, administrative modernisation policies and economic performances praised by international partners.
His record, however, remains contested by sections of the opposition and civil society, particularly following the exclusion of Les Démocrates from the 2026 presidential race over sponsorship requirements, as well as the adoption in November 2025 of a constitutional reform extending the presidential term to seven years.
In its April 16 ruling, the constitutional court confirmed the victory of the Wadagni–Chabi Talata ticket with 4,515,449 votes, representing 94.27% of valid ballots cast. Final voter turnout stood at 63.57%.
The outgoing president also extended his “best wishes for success” to Wadagni for “the next seven years,” expressing confidence that Benin would continue its progress toward becoming “a great nation” under the stewardship of its new leader.
Romuald Wadagni is scheduled to be sworn in on Sunday, May 24, becoming Benin’s fourth president since the return to democracy in 1990.
