Benin’s former finance minister sworn in as president.

The former finance minister of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, officially became the country’s president on Sunday, succeeding his predecessor and former boss, Patrice Talon.

Wadagni, an economist known for his technocratic approach and for maintaining continuity with Talon’s two mandates, was elected on April 12.

He secured 94 percent of the votes, easily defeating his sole opponent, Paul Hounkpe. Hounkpe’s party quickly aligned with Wadagni’s party in parliament.

The main opposition party, the Democrats, was unable to participate in the elections because of insufficient endorsements and internal divisions.

“I will serve Benin with integrity, courage and commitment,” Wadagni said at his inauguration. “I will serve with the constant knowledge that power is never a personal privilege.”

Wadagni now leads a West African country that has experienced a decade of strong economic growth, yet still faces a large wealth gap and insecurity in the north caused by attacks attributed to jihadist groups.

The 49‑year‑old has a seven‑year term ahead of him, after a constitutional reform last year extended the presidential mandate from five to seven years. A president may serve a maximum of two terms.

During his 10‑year tenure as finance minister, Wadagni cleaned up Benin’s public finances and reduced the deficit by a third, bringing it to three percent of GDP.

He emphasized that, in addition to his economic expertise, he would address the violence in the north, mainly attributed to Al‑Qaeda’s Sahel branch, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

“Benin will not give in to fear or complacency. The government will be firm against all those who threaten our unity and security,” Wadagni said.

One of his tasks will be to stabilize previously strained relations with its two junta‑ruled neighbours, Niger and Burkina Faso, which are battling Islamist militant groups seeking to expand in the region.

On Sunday, Niger’s prime minister, Ali Lamine Zeine, attended Wadagni’s inauguration and applauded the event, signalling a thaw in relations.

“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,” Zeine told journalists.

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