Tensions are rising in Benin’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 general elections, as the opposition party Les Démocrates has criticised a potential conflict of interest involving Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, who has been designated as a presidential candidate.
On September 12, 2025, the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) reminded all prospective candidates that obtaining a valid tax clearance is mandatory to submit a candidacy. The agency confirmed that requests must be made individually through the online platform quitus.impots.bj.
In a press release, DGI Director General Nicolas Yenoussi outlined that applicants must be up to date with all tax obligations, including property taxes, motor vehicle tax (TVM), professional taxes, income tax, and business tax. Employees must also attach a pay slip issued within the last three months.
The tax clearance documentation requires personal information and verification that the applicant’s tax situation was settled at zero francs as of December 31, 2024. The DGI has made support available via a dedicated phone line (133) and email (cdgi@finances.bj) for candidates needing guidance.
The announcement comes amid growing political unease. Les Démocrates, led by former President Thomas Boni Yayi, called on September 5 for Wadagni’s immediate resignation from his ministerial role.
The party argues that as the head of the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the DGI, Wadagni holds undue influence over the issuance of tax clearances crucial for presidential candidates.
“In a well-established democratic state, logic recommends that the Minister of State resign from his current position,” the party stated, adding that, failing this, the tax clearance platform must be made fully accessible to all eligible citizens without obstruction.
Wadagni, 49, has held the finance portfolio since 2016 and was named Africa’s Best Finance Minister in 2024. Meanwhile, the opposition is consolidating efforts to present a single candidate, aiming to strengthen its position amid uncertainties surrounding Benin’s democratic and economic continuity.
The debate highlights the challenges of ensuring transparency and fairness in electoral processes where institutional oversight intersects with political ambitions.
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