Elections in Benin: Romuald Wadagni and Paul Hounkpè in the running to succeed President Talon – BBC News Africa

For several months, northern Benin has been facing increasingly deadly jihadist attacks, in a regional context marked by security challenges in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.

As the election approaches this Sunday, the security issue dominates, while President Patrice Talon is preparing to leave power after two mandates, marked by economic reforms and sustained growth of around 7%.

Face to face: Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni and opponent Paul Hounkpè. Both candidates highlight the need to strengthen regional cooperation to face the jihadist threat.

With concerns rising over the expansion of the Islamist insurgency that has already engulfed much of West Africa, the security issue is dominating the electoral campaign in Benin, once considered a largely peaceful country.

Sunday’s presidential election comes about four months after outgoing President Patrice Talon survived an attempted coup, in which Nigeria – a regional power – deployed warplanes, in the name of ECOWAS, to bomb soldiers mutineers.

This intervention prevented Benin from following the trajectory of neighboring countries like Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, where the army took power in recent years, amid frustration with the inability of civilian governments to contain groups linked to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.

The threat is very real: the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group JNIM killed 15 soldiers last month in an attack on a military base in Kofouno, near the Niger border. This attack is part of a series of violence, notably in W National Park, where dozens of Beninese soldiers were killed in 2024.

Park W, together with the Pendjari and Arly reserves, form the largest protected wilderness area in West Africa. But the density of forests and the porosity of borders facilitate the installation of armed groups and their movement between countries.

According to ACLED, an American NGO founded in 2005 which collects, analyzes and maps in real time data on political violence and demonstrations around the world, the border areas between Niger, Benin and Nigeria have become real hotbeds of conflict, with at least 1,000 deaths in 2025 – i.e. more than double the previous year.

Faced with this growing insecurity, fear is spreading among local populations. Materne Adjavon, a teacher who lives in the north, confides that it is becoming difficult to educate young people, while a mother speaks of the constant fear of attacks, rapes and looting.

“Schools are disrupted in certain areas of the north because of the insecurity linked to the fallout from violence in Niger and Burkina Faso,” explains the young man. We teachers simply want to work, educate young people, but it becomes very difficult. We cannot imagine our country becoming like Nigeria with the threat of Boko Haram, which has claimed so many lives. HAS”

A young mother Christel Yovi, who works on a sesame plantation, explains: “We are afraid to go to the fields. I live here in Nattintingou but with everything that is happening, I wanted to leave for Porto-Novo or Cotonou. I don’t know what to do or where to go. At any time, these men can come, rape us, steal our property or kill us. It’s not easy. Benin does not deserve this. Young people don’t deserve this. HAS”

In this context, candidates emphasize security. The Minister of Finance and government candidate, Romuald Wadagni, 49, candidate of the coalition of the Republican Bloc and the Progressive Union Renewal, promises to make the protection of citizens a daily priority, after launching his campaign in the north of the country, particularly exposed.

“I would like to tell you that your security, the security of each Beninese citizen and, even more, the security of each of the inhabitants of Alibori (name of the department), will be a daily concern for us,” he said. Everything is being done and everything will continue to be done so that your safety is ensured every day. HAS”

His rival, Paul Hounkpè, 56 years old former minister, of the Forces Cauris pour un Bénin Émergent (FCBE) party, also insists on the need to cooperate with neighboring countries, notably Niger and Burkina Faso, despite strained relations since the coups in these countries.

He also insists on his chances of winning: “The match is not over, it’s one. Second, this is not a friendly match. It’s a serious match and I know that if something doesn’t change in the next two weeks or if we should vote today, then we are winners. Yes or no? It is very clear and if we are elected, we will speak with neighboring countries to eradicate jihadist violence. HAS”

These tensions are part of a broader regional divide. ECOWAS suspended these military regimes, which in return formed their own alliance, the AES, and moved closer to Russia.

Relations between Benin and Niger have particularly deteriorated since the 2023 coup and the coming to power of General Abdourahmane Tiani, who closed the border between the two countries.

On the political level, Patrice Talon’s democratic record divides. His supporters believe that he has preserved the country’s democratic stability, going against the grain of Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traoré, who has recently openly criticized “democracy”.

But Talon’s detractors denounce a democratic decline, in particular through electoral reforms which have limited the participation of the opposition. Apart from security, one of the main issues remains the fight against unemployment.

Certainly, with nearly 7% growth in 2026, Benin stands out as one of the most dynamic economies in West Africa with nearly 70% of its population under the age of 30.

Benin is among the youngest countries in the world – a considerable demographic asset, but also a major challenge in terms of jobs and opportunities. The country’s youngest MP, Youssouf Issa, 31, explains why it is essential that young people participate massively in the vote.

“I think it’s everyone’s civic duty. We are lucky to have a candidate who is young. Current president Patrice Talon has really focused on youth during his 10 years in office. We hope that young people will be able to come out en masse to vote. Being the youngest MP at 31 is a source of pride for me. I hope it is a source of pride for my parents and for the entire nation, a testament that the youth can represent Benin. HAS”

Not everyone shares this point of view but despite the tensions, a peaceful transition of power is expected. Above all, voters hope that the next president will manage to improve regional relations and contain the insurgency which now threatens the stability of Benin.