The former Finance Minister of Benin Republic, Romuald Wadagni, officially became the country’s President on Sunday, succeeding his former boss, Patrice Talon.
Wadagni, an economist widely regarded as a technocrat who represents continuity with Talon’s two-term administration, won the April 12 election with 94 percent of the vote.
His only challenger, Paul Hounkpe, suffered a heavy defeat, while Hounkpe’s party later aligned with Wadagni’s coalition in parliament.
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The main opposition party, the Democrats, was unable to participate in the election due to insufficient endorsements and internal divisions.
“I will serve Benin with integrity, courage and commitment,” Wadagni said during his inauguration ceremony.
“I will serve with the constant knowledge that power is never a personal privilege,” he added.
Wadagni assumes leadership of the West African nation after a decade of economic growth, though the country continues to face a widening wealth gap and growing insecurity in its northern regions linked to jihadist attacks.
The 49-year-old begins a seven-year term following a constitutional reform last year that extended the presidential mandate from five to seven years. Under Benin’s constitution, presidents are limited to a maximum of two terms.
During his decade as Finance Minister, Wadagni oversaw major economic reforms that improved public finances and reduced the budget deficit to three percent of GDP.
He also pledged to confront violence in northern Benin, largely blamed on the Sahel branch of Al-Qaeda, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
“Benin will not give in to fear nor complacency.
The government will be firm against all those who threaten our unity and security,” Wadagni declared.
One of his immediate diplomatic challenges will be rebuilding ties with neighbouring junta-led states, including Niger and Burkina Faso, both battling Islamist insurgencies.
Africanews
