Benin’s former president Boni Yayi steps down as leader of opposition party

Thomas Boni Yayi, the former president of Benin and longstanding figure in the country’s opposition politics, has officially resigned as leader of the main opposition party Les Démocrates. His departure from the party’s leadership is attributed to health reasons, with the 72-year-old saying he wants to dedicate this next phase of his life to rest.

Boni Yayi will hand over interim leadership duties to the party’s vice-presidents and governing bodies while Les Démocrates plan for a future congress.

His resignation comes at a politically crucial moment for Benin’s opposition landscape. In the January parliamentary elections, Les Démocrates failed to secure a single seat in the National Assembly, effectively losing their voice in the legislature. The party’s candidate for the upcoming April presidential election was also rejected over insufficient backing from lawmakers and mayors.

Boni Yayi’s departure follows broader challenges for the party, including recent leadership exits and the arrest-related departure of his son, Chabi Yayi, in connection with an alleged plot tied to a coup attempt.

With President Patrice Talon set to step down after two terms, and his chosen successor, Romuald Wadagni, favored to win the presidency, Benin is entering a transitional phase in its political calendar marked by shifting alliances and questions over the strength of organized opposition.