Romuald Wadagni: les assurances du gouvernement sur l’utilisation des moyens de l’Etat pour sa campagne
The retention of Romuald Wadagni in his post as Minister of State, Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of Cooperation, while he is a declared candidate in the presidential election of April 12, 2026, continues to raise questions and debates in public opinion.
The retention of Romuald Wadagni in his post as Minister of State, Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of Cooperation, while he is a declared candidate in the presidential election of April 12, 2026, continues to raise questions and debates in public opinion.
The question was once again posed to the government during the weekly press briefing held on Friday, January 23, 2026, in Cotonou. Questioned on this precise point, the government spokesperson, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, provided clarifications that he places both on the legal ground and on the moral plane.
According to him, the debate must first be assessed in light of the texts in force.
“Is there a legal prescription that obliges a minister who is a candidate in a presidential election to resign?”, he asked himself before answering unambiguously. “For a minister, there is no formal obligation to resign.”
The spokesperson recalled, as a precedent, the 2016 case, where a Prime Minister remained in office while being a candidate in the presidential election.
Wilfried Houngbédji, however, acknowledged that the question is not limited to the legal aspect. It also carries a moral dimension.
On this point, he insisted on a fundamental principle. “What matters is to ensure that a decision-making official does not use the state’s resources for campaign purposes.” On this point, he gave a public reassurance.
“You won’t see state resources being used for his campaign.”, he said.
To explain Romuald Wadagni’s continued presence in the executive, the government spokesperson also highlighted the imperatives related to the ongoing government action. He notably mentioned the central role of the Minister of State in a major international financial operation.
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, Benin carried out a $500 million fundraising on the Islamic financial markets, through its first international sukuk.
According to Wilfried Houngbédji, Romuald Wadagni was fully mobilized in this operation. “It has been ten to fifteen days since he has been traveling to coordinate this fundraising, with numerous steps of discussions with investors,” he specified, noting that the Minister of State remains “totally engaged in his functions within the government team.”
