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Former Beninese president Boni Yayi broke his silence following his meeting on Friday, October 24, 2025, with Head of State Patrice Talon. In a statement addressed to his compatriots, the leader of the party Les Démocrates made serious accusations against the government in place, evoking a “destabilization” plan aimed at weakening his party and silencing the opposition.
Boni Yayi says he met President Talon in his capacity as a former head of state. During that meeting, he says he asked the occupant of the Palais de la Marina to guarantee the participation of the party Les Démocrates in the upcoming 2026 general elections, notably the legislative and municipal elections in January, as well as the presidential election in April.
He notably recalls that Les Démocrates, legalized in December 2020, constitute an essential component of the Beninese opposition and take part in political life in compliance with the laws, notably the 2019 law on the status of the opposition.
According to Boni Yayi, since 2016 the regime in power has allegedly instituted “a systematic policy of exclusion” of the opposition, contrary to the texts voted on and promulgated by the power itself. While the 2023 elections allowed partial participation of his party, the former president believes the logic of exclusion continues, seriously threatening Beninese democracy.
“The exclusion of the opposition and of the party Les Démocrates from the April 2026 presidential election runs counter to our democratic framework born of the 1990 National Conference,” he denounced, pointing to a violation of universal principles of democracy and human rights.
In a grave tone, Boni Yayi says that President Talon would have given up on making Benin a state governed by the rule of law. He speaks of “a worrying erosion” of public freedoms, human dignity and justice, all of which are guaranteed by the Constitution.
The former president goes further by accusing the government of orchestrating “a wide plan of destabilization and poaching” of senior officials and deputies from his party. According to him, this strategy would rely on “intimidation, financial promises and threats of all kinds,” with the aim of progressively dissolving the main opposition party.
“The president thus expresses his desire to do away with the opposition, to do away with the party Les Démocrates and to destroy our democratic edifice,” he insisted.
Despite the seriousness of his accusations, Boni Yayi advocates political dialogue as the only way to resolve what he describes as a “political, democratic and electoral crisis.”
Also speaking about his health, he said he is continuing a medical retreat and asked his compatriots for their prayers. “Let us stay connected to hope,” he urged, before concluding with a spiritual message: “Let us entrust ourselves to God, for only He can do everything. His will will be fulfilled in our common homeland, Benin.”