PRESS RELEASE – Cotonou, Benin, 1 April 2026
Ahead of Benin’s 12th April presidential election, the ECOWAS Long-Term Observation Mission has continued to observe pre-election activities in the country’s 12 administrative Districts and hold consultations with political stakeholders as a confidence-building mechanism and preventive diplomacy to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
In Cotonou, the Observers met with officials of the Union des Professionnels des Médias du Bénin (UPMB), the umbrella body that groups 15 media associations.
ECOWAS LTOs after a meeting with Benin Journalists Union officials in Cotonou
The Union’s third Vice-President Achille Yonconfoun, and Secretary General Toussaint Kinninkpo, said that journalists in the country would like to see a more liberal civic space and unfettered freedom for the media to support the consolidation of democracy.
A civil society activist and member of an Electoral Platform, Luc Candeney spoke in a similar vein, adding that Benin should live up to its strong tradition as “pioneer of multiparty democracy” in Africa.
Civil society activist Luc Candeney
This is a reference to the 1990 Constitutional Conference, which paved the way for multiparty governance on the continent after decades of military rule and dictatorships that characterised the Cold War era.
A training session for Election officials/agents
The ECOWAS Mission members also met with other stakeholders in various Departments, including heads of security agencies, officials of the National Electoral Commission, CENA and local administration. They also observed the training of electoral officials/agents.
Meanwhile, the two candidates for the 12th April presidential contest – Kossi Mbuèke Romuald Wadagni, the Finance Minister, who is the ruling Coalition’s flag-bearer, and the opposition candidate Paul Hounkpè, have stepped up their campaigns in different parts of the country.
Meeting with opposition candidate Paul Hounkpe’s Municipal Coordinator in Kandi
ECOWAS Observers met in Kandi, north-eastern Allibori Department, with candidate Hounkpè’s Coordinator, Abdou Salifu, who said his party was ready for the 12th April election and was reassured by the presence of ECOWAS observers.
Candidate Wadagni and his running mate, current Vice-President Mariam Chabi Talata, addressed supporters at a campaign rally in Tchaourou, in the eastern Borgou District, on Tuesday, 31st March 2026, where they laid out the coalition’s plans should they be elected.
Some eight million registered voters from an estimated 15 million population will vote for Benin’s new leader on 12th April to replace outgoing President Patrice Talon, who will be completing the constitutionally-allowed two five-year terms.##
