Benin’s Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni ended campaigning on Friday with a pledge to push economic reforms “even further” if elected president in Sunday’s vote, positioning himself as the continuity candidate in a race widely seen as tilted in favour of the ruling bloc. Wadagni, 49, rallied thousands of supporters in the commercial capital Cotonou on the final day of campaigning, backed by the two main pro-government parties and by outgoing President Patrice Talon, who is barred by the constitution from seeking a third term.
“We are going to move forward, go even further with what began before your very eyes,” Wadagni told supporters, pointing to a decade of economic reforms under Talon that have helped make Benin one of West Africa’s faster-growing economies. World Bank data show Benin’s economy expanded by 7.5% in 2024, its highest growth rate since 1990, while the Bank projects average growth of 7.1% a year between 2025 and 2027.
Wadagni, a former Deloitte executive who has served as finance minister for about 10 years, is widely viewed as the clear favourite. Reuters reported that his campaign has focused on preserving macroeconomic gains while promising improvements in access to potable water, emergency healthcare and jobs. Seeking to soften his image as a technocrat, he has campaigned in a more casual style, giving shorter speeches and mingling more directly with supporters.
His sole challenger is Paul Hounkpè of the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin, or FCBE, a relatively low-profile candidate who has argued that headline growth has not translated into better living conditions for most citizens. Hounkpè has campaigned on reducing the cost of basic goods and securing the release of political opponents jailed under Talon’s administration.
But the election is taking place in a politically constrained environment. The main opposition party, The Democrats, was unable to field a candidate, and recent parliamentary elections left Talon’s allies in full control of the National Assembly after the opposition failed to clear a 20% threshold. Analysts and rights groups have said those rules, along with broader restrictions on opposition activity, have narrowed democratic competition.
Security is also a growing issue. While Wadagni has campaigned on continuity and stability, Benin’s north has faced rising jihadist violence linked to instability spilling across regional borders. Reuters reported that the vote comes only months after a failed coup attempt, highlighting the fragility beneath the country’s economic success story. With more than 7.9 million people registered to vote, preliminary results are expected on Tuesday.
