Benin is once again in the political news with the appointment of Thomas Boni Yayi as leader of the Les Démocrates party. The former President of the Republic thus takes the reins of this opposition formation following a first ordinary congress which was held last weekend in Parakou, in the north of the country. This appointment was not without difficulties and sparked intense debates within the party.
The decision to appoint Thomas Boni Yayi as leader of the Les Démocrates party was not made without problems. Two camps clashed during the discussions, that of Éric Houndété, the outgoing president, and the Boni Yayi camp. Ultimately, it was the former head of state who was chosen. Éric Houndété’s supporters wanted to continue their work, but the reference to the examples of Henri Kona Bédié and Laurent Gbagbo, who both led their party after leaving power, weighed in the balance in favor of Boni Yayi.
Rather than resorting to a vote, the party opted for the nomination of Thomas Boni Yayi as president and Éric Houndété as vice-president. They will head an office made up of nearly 90 members. It is important to emphasize that this office is not a “crisis office”. New figures are entering this body, notably Chabi Yayi, son of the former president, the former deputy Guy Mitokpè and Réckiat Madougou’s lawyer, Me Renaud Agbodjo.
The Democrats party has a clear objective: to win the 2026 general elections. This is a point of convergence for all members of the party. Habibou Woroucoubou, president of the organizing committee, displays his optimism by affirming that the Democrats will take power in 2026. This year will be marked by general elections and the end of the second and last term of President Patrice Talon.
It is important to note that Thomas Boni Yayi will not be able to be a candidate in the next presidential election, given that he has already served two terms and is over the age limit of 70 years. However, all the speeches given during the congress were full of harsh criticism of the power in place. A special resolution calls for the immediate release and amnesty for Réckiat Madougou, sentenced to 20 years in prison for complicity in acts of terrorism.
The first actions of Thomas Boni Yayi as leader of the opposition will be eagerly awaited. His tense relations with Patrice Talon continue to raise questions about future political dynamics. Benin is in a period of political transition and it is interesting to closely follow future developments in the country.