Policy

The second extraordinary session of the National Assembly for 2025 will open on Monday, September 1, at 10 a.m. at the Palace of Governors in Porto-Novo. Two major items are on the agenda: the review and adoption of the National Assembly’s budget for fiscal year 2026, as well as bringing into compliance Resolution No. 2025-02 […]

A few months ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2026, Benin’s religious denominations are gearing up to play a leading role in preserving peace and social cohesion. More than 400 delegates from the country’s twelve departments will take part, from September 2 to 4, 2025 in Cotonou, in a first-of-its-kind national seminar devoted to […]

The Force Cauris pour un Bénin Émergent (FCBE) party has formalized a vote of no confidence against ten municipal councilors from Kandi who recently joined the opposition party Les Démocrates (LD).These councilors, originally elected under the FCBE banner, chose to join former President Boni Yayi’s camp—a decision their former party deems unacceptable. According to Prosper […]

The Beninese government is continuing its program to relocate residents and redevelop the east bank of the Cotonou lagoon. This Wednesday, a second group of displaced residents received compensation checks at the offices of Cotonou’s 3rd arrondissement, as part of an operation to clear and enhance this area. The beneficiaries, visibly relieved, expressed their gratitude […]

The discussions between the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (Céna) and lawmakers on August 20 revealed a major disagreement over the requirement to indicate a governance agreement on the sponsorship form. The Director General of Elections, Boucary Adam Soulé, defended including this item, citing Article 132 of the Electoral Code, stemming from Law 2024-13. In his […]

The simmering crisis within Kandi’s communal council came to a head on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Eight communal councilors, including key figures in the local executive, were removed from office following a vote of no confidence held at city hall. In the background is their recent resignation from Forces Cauris pour un Bénin Émergent (FCBE) […]

Former Minister of Energy, Water, and Mines, Samou Seidou Adambi, has regained his place within the Republican Bloc. Suspended since January 2025 following his departure from government, he was officially reinstated on Sunday, August 31, 2025, during an extraordinary session of the party’s National Executive Bureau (BEN). Chaired by Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, the meeting of […]

A new step in Odile Ahouanwanou’s journey. The three-time African champion in the heptathlon and World Athletics Championships finalist has officially announced her entry into politics. She herself calls this decision “delicate,” especially in an African context where public stances by athletes or artists can carry risks for their careers. A choice for MOELE-Bénin In […]

The Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), opened a capacity-building workshop on Tuesday in Cotonou focused on protecting elections. The initiative, supported by Canadian Cooperation, aims to better prepare stakeholders in the electoral process for transparent, secure, and inclusive polls. Nearly 162 participants […]

Amid political tensions and heated debates, the Front Patriotique (FP) issued a strong call: the organization of a new national conference. Meeting on August 23 in Cotonou, the movement led by its general coordinator, Laurent Métongnon, voiced its “deep concern” over how the country’s political situation is evolving. Since 2016, Benin’s political landscape has been […]

The opposition party Les Démocrates (LD) reacted forcefully on Tuesday to the attempt to remove ten municipal councilors from Kandi, from the FCBE and UP-R, who had recently joined its ranks. At a press briefing in Cotonou, Boni Yayi’s party denounced an “underhanded strategy” by the presidential camp, which it accuses of resorting to maneuvers […]

One year ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2026, lawyer and consultant Adégbola Franck Oké has sent an official letter to the Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). In this letter, he draws attention to certain restrictive provisions in Benin’s electoral law, which he considers potentially harmful to the fairness of […]

As the 2026 presidential election approaches, the debate over candidate sponsorship continues to stir the Beninese political scene. Former minister and ex-political adviser to the Force cauris pour un Bénin émergent (FCBE), Alain François Adihou, has responded to the March 2024 electoral reform and the recent Decision No. 2025/12 of the Commission électorale nationale autonome […]

The National Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, recently amended, do not fully comply with the Constitution. This is the finding of a decision issued on August 8, 2025 by the Constitutional Court, following a referral by the president of Parliament. In the ruling reported by Banouto, the Constitutional Court declared the new Article 133 introduced by […]

The president of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI-RDA), Tidjane Thiam, intends to remain in the race for the presidential election scheduled for October 2025. After obtaining his certificate of nationality on Thursday, August 21, his candidacy file was officially submitted on Sunday, August 24 to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) by a party […]

The Prefect of Atlantique Department, Jean-Claude Codjia, decided to suspend two orders issued by the mayor of Toffo, Bibiane Soglo Adamazé. These orders, dated August 12 and 19, 2025, concerned the appointment of new chairs of standing committees within the municipal council. According to Prefectural Order No. 3/ATL/2025D/3367/SG/STCCD/SA, the measure follows several irregularities noted during […]

A few months before the 2026 general elections, a Beninese legal expert sent a letter to the President of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In his letter, he draws the subregional institution’s attention to certain provisions of the Beninese Electoral Code deemed worrying. This appeal comes in a tense […]

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara officially filed, on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, his candidacy for the October presidential election. A long-awaited confirmation that opens the way to a fourth consecutive term, despite persistent political tensions in the country. Alassane Ouattara puts an end to the suspense. In a televised address broadcast on July 29, the 83-year-old […]

The Haute Direction Politique (HDP) of the Union Progressiste le Renouveau (UP-R) announced, on Monday, August 25, 2025, the temporary suspension of new memberships from the Bloc Républicain (BR). In a directive signed by the Secretary General, Gérard Gbenonchi, the HDP stated that any membership originating from the Bloc Républicain is suspended when it concerns […]

In Kinshasa, the repercussion of the former Congolese president Joseph Kabila’s trial, which is being conducted in absentia, was spectacular. General Lucien René Likulia, a representative of the public ministry, demanded the death penalty for the ex-President on Thursday, accusing him of many serious crimes ranging from “treason” to “war crimes”, and even “organizing an […]

The Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) held a discussion on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, with the deputies of the National Assembly on a central topic of the Electoral Code: the sponsorship of candidates for the 2026 presidential election. While some elected officials were hoping for a broader debate on the overall organization of the vote, […]

Jacques Ayadji’s accusations against Edmond Agoua, whom he accuses of poaching activists, continue to provoke reactions. After the party’s clarifications, Ezin has stepped forward to set the record straight. During a press conference he organized on Wednesday, August 20 at Cotonou’s Birdsong, Germain Ezin, accompanied for the occasion by Benoît Seydou, educator and representative of […]

In preparation for the 2026 presidential election, the National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) on Wednesday invited deputies for a discussion session in Cotonou. The aim: to clarify the procedure for issuing endorsement forms to candidates and to reiterate the conditions for operationalizing this mechanism provided by the Electoral Code. During the meeting, the members of […]

The leadership of the Capable Generations Movement (MGC) has announced that its presidential candidate, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, will officially submit her candidacy on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 8 pm at the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). Supporters are called for an exceptional mobilization to mark this decisive step. The campaign for the […]

With less than a year to go until the 2026 Presidential election, the debate about the “post-Talon” era is intensifying in Benin. Invited onto the set of ESAE TV on Sunday, August 17, 2025, deputy of the 9th legislature and political science lecturer, Prudent Victor Topanou, outlined the ideal characteristics of the future head of […]

On the night of August 16 to 17, 2025, a bus from the STM company, bound for Niamey, veered off its path and plunged into the Ouémé river. The accident occurred around 00:30, on the Interstate Route No. 2, at the bridge located in the district of Thio, municipality of Glazoué. The vehicle was carrying […]

The former civilian Prime Minister of Mali, Choguel Kokalla Maïga, was indicted on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, for “damaging public goods, forgery and use of forgery”. After a week in custody, he was brought before the investigative chamber of the Supreme Court which decided to place him under a committal order. No date has been […]

On Sunday, August 17, 2025, the communal coordination of the Progressive Union Renewal (UPR) of Glazoué firmly responded to the remarks of Jacques Ayadji, president of Moele-Benin. He had accused Deputy Edmond Agoua of engaging in political poaching practices. Meeting urgently, the leaders of the UPR rejected accusations they deem “defamatory” and defended the political […]