Benin’s Minister of State for the Economy and Finance, Romuald Wadagni, has been officially selected by the Republican Bloc (BR) and the Progressive Union for Renewal (UPR) as their joint candidate for the April 2026 presidential election.
The announcement comes just weeks after President Patrice Talon reaffirmed that he would not seek a third term, ending speculation over possible constitutional amendments to extend his mandate.
On July 20, Talon’s spokesperson, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, confirmed on Canal 3 Benin that the president had “rejected any amendment to the texts” that would allow him to remain in power, insisting that Benin had “other leaders capable of continuing and even improving on the work already accomplished.”
Wadagni, 49, has served as finance minister since 2016 and is widely recognized for spearheading major economic reforms.
Under his leadership, Benin achieved record Eurobond issuance on international markets, tightened inflation control, and consolidated economic growth.
His achievements earned him the title of Africa’s Best Finance Minister in 2024, an award based on debt management, economic stability, and growth performance.
A graduate of the Grenoble School of Business and holder of an MBA from Harvard Business School, Wadagni is also a certified public accountant in both France and the United States. Before joining politics, he spent 17 years at Deloitte, becoming the group’s youngest partner at 36 and leading its French-speaking Africa operations.
Meanwhile, the opposition—led by former president Boni Yayi’s party, Les Démocrates—is working to unify around a single candidate to strengthen its position ahead of the polls. With the election set for April 2026, the political landscape remains fluid, and the contest is expected to play a decisive role in shaping Benin’s democratic and economic trajectory.
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