Benin’s Romuald Wadagni wins presidency by landslide, provisional results show

Submission statement: Results of the presidential election in Benin, where the outgoing Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni won an uncompetitive election on a platform of liberal reformism to succeed strongman Patrice Talon. A contribution to one of this sub's most heated debates, as the Talon-Wadagni duo governed Benin in an undemocratic manner while enacting successful liberal reforms.

Romuald Wadagni, 49, has won the Beninese presidential election in a landslide following the political neutralization of the opposition, enshrining the "Talon system" that has been governing Benin for a decade. Wadagni, a Deloitte partner with extensive finance and consulting experience, was recruited as Finance Minister by Patrice Talon, his political mentor, to implement market liberal reforms that have yielded successful results, remaining in office for ten years until his anointment as Talon's successor.

Nicknamed the "Cotton King", Patrice Talon was Benin's wealthiest businessman when he was elected President in 2016 on a platform of liberal reformism and anti-corruption policies, backed by several Beninese oligarchs. Under Talon's presidency and Wadagni's ministry, Benin was named a "Top 10 reformer" by the World Bank and experienced significant economic progress: electrification increased from 29% to 56%, the deficit decreased from 6% to 3.3%, and economic growth recovered from the post-GFC lull to reach 7% annually, while the poverty rate was cut from 40% to 32%. While Benin remains one of the least developed countries in the world – but could graduate in the 2030s if the current trajectory is maintained – and heavily dependent on cash crop exports – mainly cotton and cashew nuts – its economy has diversified, with sizeable growth in the industrial sector (textiles and beverages) and in logistics, with the expansion of the Cotonou harbor as a major hub in West Africa.

Patrice Talon also launched ambitious cultural policies aiming to boost Benin's soft power: he oversaw the repatriation of dozens of artifacts that were pillaged by France during the colonial era, funded museums, monuments and tours valorizing Benin's rich cultural legacy from the Abomey and Dahomey kingdoms, and recruited Spike Lee as an ambassador for the "My Afro Origins" programme that aims to attract influence and capital from African-Americans.

Talon's presidency has also caused a sharp democratic backsliding. Since 1990 and the fall of the Marxist-Leninist dictatorship, Benin had been a flawed but robust multi-party democracy scoring high in the region, with a dynamic civil society and competitive elections. Patrice Talon enacted constitutional reforms to strengthen the presidency and shift power away from Parliament, and while he kept his promise not to run for a dreaded third term, he effectively neutralized opposition to his rule: his chosen heir Romuald Wadagni was elected with 94% of the vote, and the February legislative elections resulted in all but one seats in Parliament to be won by his coalition.

But Talon's greatest failure is the deterioration of Benin's security. Historically an oasis of stability in a troubled region, Benin has been destabilized by the expansion of jihadist groups in the poor, majority Muslim north from their strongholds in Burkina Faso and Niger, the northern neighbors of Benin that have shifted away from traditional alliances and formed the pro-Russia military bloc AES. Attacks have sextupled since Talon's re-election in 2021, nearly a quarter of the country escapes full state control, the W National Park – a former major tourist attraction – is now an active combat zone, and over a thousand people have been killed in the north during Talon's second term. In December 2025, Benin was further destabilized when pro-AES elements of the military launched a coup – the first ever in Beninese history – to overthrow Talon, seizing several key sites and announcing the dissolution of the Constitution before they were thwarted by Beninese loyalists with assistance from Nigeria and France.

Romuald Wadagni represents continuity with Patrice Talon's rule in all aspects, but the expansion of jihadist groups and a probable oil shock from the war in the Middle East could significantly destabilize Benin.