Benin: religious denominations announce three-day consultation ahead of elections
With less than a year remaining before Benin’s 2026 general elections, religious leaders across the country are mobilizing to promote peace and national cohesion.
More than 400 delegates from all twelve departments will convene for a national seminar on the “role of religious denominations in peaceful elections” from 2 to 4 September 2025 in Cotonou.
The event marks an unprecedented gathering of Benin’s diverse religious landscape, including representatives of indigenous faiths, Muslim communities such as the Ahmadiyya, evangelical federations including FEMEB, CEPEB, Assemblies of God, and the Pentecostal Church of the Faith, as well as Catholic, Orthodox, Celestial Christianity, and Cherubim-Seraphim churches.
Michel Alokpo, secretary general of the Framework for Consultation of Religious Confessions and president of the organizing committee, underlined the seminar’s purpose: “We want there to be a winner and no losers,” he said, stressing the importance of fostering trust between political actors and citizens.
Over three days, participants will address key themes including civil peace, interreligious dialogue, citizen awareness, and adherence to the Electoral Code. The consultation aims to produce concrete recommendations for both the authorities and the wider population, guiding them toward a peaceful electoral process.
Religious leaders in Benin have already played an active role in promoting calm in the months leading up to the seminar. In January, the Episcopal Conference of Benin called for dialogue and restraint, while in April, President Patrice Talon met with a delegation of faith leaders, urging them to contribute actively to national cohesion.
The seminar is seen as a critical step in ensuring that the upcoming elections are conducted in a climate of trust and cooperation, with all stakeholders—political, religious, and civil society—working together to prevent conflict and promote democratic stability.
By bringing together the country’s religious diversity under a single forum, Benin hopes to set a model for peaceful electoral engagement and reinforce the role of faith communities in safeguarding the nation’s democratic process.
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