Romuald Wadagni Inaugurated as New President of Benin

Romuald Wadagni was inaugurated as the President of Benin Republic on Sunday, succeeding Patrice Talon, who completed two terms in office. Wadagni, an economist and former finance minister, won the presidential election held on April 12 with a significant 94% of the votes, defeating challenger Paul Hounkp, who faced a heavy defeat.

Hounkp's party later aligned with Wadagni's coalition in parliament, while the main opposition party, the Democrats, was unable to participate in the elections due to insufficient endorsements and internal divisions. During his inauguration ceremony, Wadagni acknowledged the economic growth of the West African nation over the past decade but also recognized the widening wealth gap and growing insecurity in the northern region, attributed to jihadist attacks.

The 49-year-old president begins a seven-year term following constitutional reforms that extended presidential mandates from five to seven years. Wadagni has pledged to confront violence in northern Benin, largely blamed on the Sahel branch of Al-Qaeda.