The newly established Senate of the Republic of Benin will convene on Thursday, August 6, to elect its inaugural leadership following the approval of its rules of procedure by the Constitutional Court.
The 25-member upper chamber was inaugurated on July 30 as part of Benin’s transition to a bicameral parliament. Under Article 113-5 of the Constitution, the Senate’s bureau comprises a president, vice-president and rapporteur, elected for renewable five-year terms.
While all senators are eligible to serve as rapporteur, only 11 statutory members can contest the positions of president and vice-president.
They include former presidents Nicéphore Soglo, Boni Yayi and Patrice Talon; former National Assembly speakers Adrien Houngbédji, Bruno Amoussou, Mathurin Coffi Nago, Antoine Kolawolé Idji and Louis Vlavonou; and former Constitutional Court presidents Élisabeth Pognon, Théodore Holo and Robert Dossou.
The vote carries significant political weight, highlighted by former President Boni Yayi’s decision on July 22 to claim his seat in the chamber despite initially opposing the institution created under the December 2025 constitutional revision.
