Romuald Wadagni has officially assumed office as the new president of Benin, succeeding former leader Patrice Talon after a landslide electoral victory earlier this year.
Newsonspot reports that the economist and former finance minister was sworn in on Sunday following his decisive win in the April 12 presidential election, where he secured 94 percent of the votes cast. Wadagni, widely regarded as a technocrat and close ally of Talon, is expected to continue many of the policies introduced during the previous administration’s two terms in office.
His only challenger, Paul Hounkpe, suffered a heavy defeat, while his political party later aligned with Wadagni’s party in parliament. Meanwhile, the major opposition party, the Democrats, was unable to participate in the election due to internal disputes and insufficient endorsements.
During his inauguration speech, Wadagni pledged to lead the country with transparency, courage and dedication.
“I will serve Benin with integrity, courage and commitment,” he declared, adding that leadership should never be viewed as a personal privilege.
The 49-year-old president now begins a seven-year term following constitutional reforms that extended the presidential tenure from five to seven years. Under the country’s laws, a president can serve a maximum of two terms.
Wadagni takes office at a crucial moment for Benin, a nation that has experienced strong economic growth over the past decade but still faces widening inequality and growing insecurity in its northern region.
During his decade-long tenure as finance minister, Wadagni was credited with improving Benin’s public finances and reducing the country’s budget deficit to three percent of GDP.
Beyond economic reforms, the new president vowed to confront security threats linked to jihadist violence in northern Benin, particularly attacks blamed on extremist groups connected to Al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
He assured citizens that his administration would remain firm against threats to national unity and security.
Wadagni is also expected to work on rebuilding diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries Niger and Burkina Faso, both currently under military rule and battling Islamist insurgencies.
In a sign of improving regional ties, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine attended the inauguration ceremony and received applause from attendees.
