BENIN’S President Patrice Talon has once again dismissed speculation that he might seek an unconstitutional third term in office. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Jeune Afrique, Talon made it clear that he has no intention of running again when his current mandate ends in 2026.
‘I’m telling you again for the umpteenth time—no, I will not be a candidate,’ Talon said during the interview, as reported by AFP. The 65-year-old leader, who took office in 2016, stressed that he had personally strengthened Benin’s constitution to limit presidents to two terms. ‘This question troubles me. I have strengthened the constitution myself to stipulate that no one can serve more than two terms in their life,’ he added.
A delicate succession ahead
Despite ruling out another term, Talon admitted he will be closely observing who takes over the reins of the small West African nation. He said he remains deeply invested in ensuring that the reforms he implemented over the past decade are not undone.
‘I will be careful about the choice of my successor,’ he noted. ‘The next president of Benin will be my president—of my country, my family, my community, and everything that is dear to me.’
The issue of succession became more sensitive following the arrest of two close allies last year. Olivier Boko, a longtime confidant of Talon, and former sports minister Oswald Homeky, were both detained on suspicion of plotting a coup. In January, they were each sentenced to 20 years in prison for what authorities described as ‘plotting against the authority of the state.’
Reflecting on the episode, Talon described it as a ‘personal tragedy’ that had deeply affected him.
Strained ties with neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso
Talon also raised concerns about Benin’s worsening relations with its northern neighbours, Niger and Burkina Faso—both now led by military juntas. He criticised their lack of cooperation in regional security efforts, claiming their refusal to engage was complicating Benin’s fight against jihadist groups operating in the Sahel.
‘We contact them regularly. We don’t get a response,’ Talon said, according to AFP. ‘Our army is facing terrorist groups that operate freely in sanctuaries deserted by the defence and security forces of Niger and Burkina Faso. This allows them to regroup and attack en masse.’
Benin shares a northern border with both countries, which have distanced themselves from traditional Western allies since their military takeovers. The security vacuum has allowed jihadist violence to spill over into Benin’s northern regions.
Authorities in Niamey and Ouagadougou, however, have accused Benin of hosting foreign military bases aimed at destabilising their regimes. Talon firmly rejected these claims. ‘There is obviously nothing like this on Beninese soil,’ he insisted.
As Benin approaches its next presidential election cycle, Talon’s public commitment to respecting constitutional term limits stands in contrast to a troubling trend elsewhere in the region, where several leaders have extended their rule beyond legal mandates.
AFP reports that many in Benin and the wider region will be watching closely to see how Talon manages the country’s political transition—and whether his successor will safeguard the reforms he claims as his legacy.
