Former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni was officially sworn in as the new president of Benin on Sunday, succeeding his former boss, Patrice Talon, after a landslide electoral victory earlier this year.
Wadagni, a 49-year-old economist widely regarded as a technocrat and key architect of Benin’s economic reforms, secured 94 percent of the vote in the April 12 presidential election.
His only challenger, Paul Hounkpe, suffered a heavy defeat, with his political party later aligning with Wadagni’s ruling coalition in parliament. The country’s main opposition party, the Democrats, was unable to participate in the election due to insufficient endorsements and internal divisions.
Speaking during his inauguration ceremony, Wadagni pledged to govern with transparency and dedication.
“I will serve Benin with integrity, courage and commitment,” he said.
“I will serve with the constant knowledge that power is never a personal privilege,” the new president added.
Wadagni assumes office at a time when Benin has experienced a decade of steady economic growth but continues to grapple with significant income inequality and growing insecurity in its northern regions.
The new president begins a seven-year term following a constitutional amendment last year that extended the presidential mandate from five to seven years. Under the revised constitution, presidents are limited to a maximum of two terms.
During his 10 years as finance minister under Talon’s administration, Wadagni gained international recognition for implementing fiscal reforms that improved public finances and reduced the country’s budget deficit to three percent of gross domestic product.
In his inaugural address, Wadagni also vowed to strengthen security efforts against militant attacks in northern Benin, which authorities have linked to jihadist groups operating in the Sahel region, particularly the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an affiliate of Al-Qaeda.
“Benin will not give in to fear nor complacency. The government will be firm against all those who threaten our unity and security,” he declared.
Analysts say one of the major diplomatic challenges facing the new administration will be rebuilding relations with neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, both ruled by military juntas and facing persistent Islamist insurgencies.
In a possible sign of improving regional ties, Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine attended the inauguration ceremony, drawing applause from attendees.
