Benin's Wadagni has wasted no time reshaping the West Africa policy that defined his predecessor Patrice Talon's second term of office...

It signalled a détente after nearly three years of Cold War between Talon and Tiani who had resented Benin's enforcement of sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) following the July 2023 coup in Niamey (AC Vol 64 No 16 A coup foretold but not averted & Vol 65 No 13 Patrice Talon tests strength of General Tiani's junta)...

Wadagni is the handpicked heir of former President Patrice Talon who was intensely disliked in Niamey; Benin's close partnership with France will also irritate Tiani (Dispatches 13/4/26 Guelleh and Wadagni set to win in a weekend of elections with results foretold)...

With the main opposition party Les Démocrates excluded from the race the 49-year-old political heir to head of state Patrice Talon faces only one rival – Paul Hounkpè of the Forces cauris pour un Bénin émergent (FCBE) which won just 4...

After the failed putsch against President Patrice Talon in December it was Béninois officials and not French sources that revealed the discreet contribution of French troops to the mopping up operation...

When mutinous soldiers tried to topple President Patrice Talon in neighbouring Benin last December Macron and Tinubu acted jointly to intervene militarily and thwart the coup (AC Vol 66 No 25 Tinubu claims a rare win in his anti-putschist fight)...

West Africa in 2026 charts The results from Benin's parliamentary elections on 11 January will decide whether there is a strong opposition challenge ahead of April's presidential elections likely to be won by Romuald Wadagni the chosen successor of incumbent Patrice Talon...

WEST AFRICA: THE DECLINING DEMOCRATIC DIVIDENDS The results from Benin's parliamentary elections on 11 January will decide whether there is a strong opposition challenge ahead of April's presidential elections likely to be won by Romuald Wadagni the chosen successor of incumbent Patrice Talon...

So it was entirely logical that Tinubu and Macron would coordinate closely to derail the putschists – once Benin's beleaguered President Patrice Talon sounded the alarm...

Stopping the coup was the simpler part President Patrice Talon is exploiting post-putsch goodwill to launch yet another crackdown on civilian political opponents...

It is now clear that the thwarted coup in Cotonou was much more violent than first reported and determinedly targeted Benin's President Patrice Talon and the most senior military officers...

Since Gen Tiani seized power in August 2023 there have been rumbling disputes between Niamey and Cotonou (AC Vol 65 No 13 Patrice Talon tests strength of General Tiani's junta)...