Benin’s Wadagni takes office as new president

Romuald Wadagni took the oath of office on Sunday to become Benin’s new president, succeeding his former boss Patrice Talon.

Wadagni, an economist and technocrat who served as finance minister for 10 years, won the April 12 election with 94% of the vote. His sole opponent, Paul Hounkpe, was easily defeated. Hounkpe’s party later joined forces with Wadagni’s party in parliament.

The main opposition party, the Democrats, could not participate in the election due to 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 takes over a country that has experienced a decade of robust economic growth, but where a large wealth gap persists, and insecurity in the north is driven by attacks blamed on jihadist groups.

The 49-year-old will serve a seven-year term, after a constitutional reform last year extended the presidential mandate from five years. A president can serve a maximum of two terms.

As finance minister, Wadagni helped clean up Benin’s public finances and cut the deficit by a third to 3% of GDP.

He said he would also tackle violence in the north, attributed mainly to Al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). “Benin will not give in to fear nor complacency,” he said.

Wadagni will also try to stabilise ties with neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, both of which are ruled by military juntas. Niger’s prime minister attended the inauguration, a sign of easing tensions.

SOURCE: AP