Benin’s President, Patrice Talon, has reaffirmed that he will not seek a third term, staying true to the constitutional two-term limit he helped establish. However, he plans to be cautious about who succeeds him.
No Third Term for Talon
In an interview with Jeune Afrique on Friday, Talon—who has been in power since 2016—made it clear once again that he will step down when his term ends in 2026.
“I’m telling you again for the umpteenth time—no, I will not be a candidate,” he said.
Concerns Over His Successor
Talon’s focus now shifts to ensuring that his successor continues the reforms he has implemented over the past decade. His concern grew stronger after last year’s political scandal, where his close associate, Olivier Boko, and former sports minister, Oswald Homeky, were sentenced to 20 years in prison for allegedly plotting a coup.
“I experienced the Olivier Boko episode like a personal tragedy,” Talon admitted.
He emphasized that the next president must protect Benin’s progress.
“The next president of Benin will be my president—of my country, my family, my community, and everything dear to me.”
Tensions With Niger and Burkina Faso
Talon also addressed Benin’s strained relations with neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso. He expressed frustration over their lack of security cooperation, despite repeated outreach efforts.
“We contact them regularly. We don’t get a response.”
Benin’s northern borders have seen increased jihadist violence, and Talon accused the neighboring countries of allowing terrorist groups to regroup and launch attacks on Benin.
Meanwhile, the military governments of Niger and Burkina Faso have accused Benin of hosting foreign military bases aimed at destabilizing their regimes—an allegation Talon firmly denied.
“There is obviously nothing like this on Beninese soil,” he stated.
What’s Next?
With his term ending in 2026, attention will be on who Talon supports as his successor and how he handles Benin’s security challenges in the months ahead.
