Benin’s presidential race officially began Friday as the country’s two main candidates launched campaigns ahead of the April 12 election.
President Patrice Talon, barred from seeking a third term by the constitution, endorsed Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his successor.
Wadagni, the ruling party’s candidate, opened his campaign in northern Benin, rallying thousands in Kandi to discuss regional development and security.
Northern communities face ongoing threats from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda, which have spilled over from Burkina Faso and Niger.
Opposition candidate Paul Hounkpe held a low-key launch in Cotonou, addressing around a hundred supporters in a small conference room.
Hounkpe insisted the race was not over, despite the limited visibility of campaign posters and placards around the city.
The main opposition party, the Democrats, was barred from running after failing to gather sufficient signatures for participation.
Several senior Democratic figures have recently voiced support for Wadagni, leaving Hounkpe as the sole prominent challenger to the ruling bloc.
Last December, a coup attempt by army mutineers was swiftly crushed with assistance from Nigeria and France, leaving political tensions simmering.
Despite the coup, legislative and local elections proceeded the following month, consolidating President Talon’s bloc and sidelining opposition voices in parliament.
Analysts warn that security, political exclusion, and regional instability will heavily influence voter sentiment in Benin’s upcoming election.