Ahead of Benin Republic’s 2026 Presidential Election, Lawmakers in the country have voted to amend the country’s constitution, extending the presidential mandate from the initial five year-term to seven years.
The amendment, adopted late Friday, sailed through the national assembly with a 90–19 vote.
According to a statement issued on Saturday, the new provision limits presidents to two terms of seven years each and bars anyone from holding the office more than twice in their lifetime.
“From now on, and in accordance with amended Article 42, the President of the Republic is elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of seven years renewable only once,” the assembly said.
The extended tenure also applies to mayors and municipal councillors.
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While Benin heads to the polls in 2026, President Patrice Talon, who took office in 2016, is currently serving his second term and has repeatedly insisted he will not seek another.
Although considered one of West Africa’s more stable democracies, Benin faced security concerns in September when authorities said they thwarted a suspected coup plot.
Prosecutors accused Oswald Homeky, former sports minister, of handing six bags containing 1.5 billion CFA francs (about $2.5 million) to Djimon Tevoedjre, commander of the republican guard and head of President Talon’s security.
Businessman Olivier Boko, a close associate of the president who had recently indicated interest in contesting the 2026 election, was also implicated. He was later arrested in Cotonou, the country’s commercial hub.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
