Former Benin finance chief takes oath of office as nation's new leader

Benin's president Romuald Wadagni and First Lady Nathalie Villette-Wadagni greeted the crowd after the swearing-in ceremony at the Palais des Congres in Cotonou on May 24, 2026, following his election with over 94% of the vote last month.

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As the newly sworn-in president of the West African country, Romuald Wadagni succeeded Patrice Talon, who stepped down after a decade in power, with Wadagni officially taking office on May 24, 2026.

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Formerly the finance minister of Benin, Romuald Wadagni became the country's president on Sunday, taking over from his predecessor and ex-boss Patrice Talon, an economist with a reputation for embodying continuity with Talon's two mandates.

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Wadagni was elected on April 12, winning 94 percent of the ballots and easily beating his sole opponent, Paul Hounkpe, whose party quickly joined forces with Wadagni's party in the parliament.

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The main opposition party, the Democrats, was unable to participate in the elections due to insufficient endorsements and internal rifts, leaving Wadagni with a clear path to the presidency.

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During his inauguration, Wadagni stated, "I will serve Benin with integrity, courage and commitment," and "I will serve with the constant knowledge that power is never a personal privilege," outlining his commitment to the country.

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As Wadagni takes the reins, he faces the challenge of a huge wealth gap in the country, as well as insecurity in the north due to attacks blamed on jihadist groups, despite a decade of robust economic growth.

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The 49-year-old president has a seven-year term ahead of him, following a constitutional reform last year that extended the presidential mandate from five years, with a maximum of two terms allowed.

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During his 10-year stint as finance minister, Wadagni oversaw the cleanup of Benin's public finances and cut the deficit by a third to reach three percent of GDP, showcasing his economic skills.

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Wadagni emphasized his intention to tackle the violence in the north, attributed mainly to Al-Qaeda's Sahel branch, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), stating, "Benin will not give in to fear nor complacency.

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He also vowed that "the government will be firm against all those who threaten our unity and security," demonstrating his commitment to addressing the country's security concerns.

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One of Wadagni's key tasks will be to stabilize previously fraught ties with its two junta-ruled neighbours, Niger and Burkina Faso, which are battling Islamist militant groups seeking to expand in the region.

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Niger's prime minister, Ali Lamine Zeine, attended Wadagni's inauguration on Sunday, receiving applause, in a sign of detente between the two countries.

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Zeine expressed his optimism about the new path forward, stating, "I believe that it's a new path that is opening … The most important is to work towards strengthening relations and find a way that we can work together," when speaking to journalists.