Benin finance minister expected to coast to presidential election win

COTONOU, April 12 - Benin's finance minister Romuald Wadagni was expected to coast to victory in a presidential election on Sunday, buoyed by strong economic growth and the absence of a credible challenger amid mounting fears over jihadist violence.

President Patrice Talon, who has ruled the West African nation since 2016 but is unable to seek a third term under the constitution, selected Wadagni to succeed him. That means he has the backing of the dominant ruling coalition in the race, which is taking place four months after Talon’s government narrowly survived a coup attempt nL6N3XE0R9.

Vote counting in Cotonou, the largest city, began late Sunday afternoon after polling stations closed, with provisional results expected on Tuesday.

A polling station in Cotonou's 12th arrondissement, one of the first to report turnout figures, said 400 out of 584 registered voters cast ballots there - above the 50% national rate for the last presidential election in 2021.

Turnout elsewhere in the city appeared subdued. "I think the competition isn't very strong. Because of that, people have chosen not to come and vote," said Gerard Zossougan Mahouclo, 27, a data operator.

WADAGNI VOWS TO GOVERN MUCH LIKE HIS PREDECESSOR

At Talon's polling station in the Zongo-Nima neighbourhood, women bearing cardboard signs reading "Merci Talon" and "Merci Papa" waited for the outgoing president.

Addressing supporters, Talon said the election was a "milestone" and expressed confidence Benin had a prosperous future. "We have done some small things. We have taken small steps everywhere. Now we will take great strides," he said.

Wadagni, who has served as finance minister for a decade, has vowed to govern in much the same manner as Talon, promising to deliver on bread-and-butter issues like expanding access to clean water and guaranteeing emergency healthcare regardless of ability to pay.

He will also face pressure to address the country's security problems. Benin has been the hardest hit nL8N3ZU1IX among coastal West African states by jihadist groups who have made major incursions in the central Sahel.

The 49-year-old former executive of accountants Deloitte nL8N40M0M5 voted in his hometown of Lokossa, in southern Benin, wearing all white and accompanied by his wife. He did not make a statement.

More than 7.9 million people were registered to vote, including 62,000 in the diaspora of Benin nationals living abroad.

OPPONENT SAYS GROWTH GAINS ARE LIMITED

The main opposition party, The Democrats, failed to get enough lawmakers to sponsor a candidate of its own and did not back the only other candidate on the ballot - Paul Hounkpe of the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin, which was once the ruling party but now commands only a smaller following.

Hounkpe says growth under Talon and Wadagni has not improved the lives of most people. "If we make progress but none of us can afford three meals a day, we haven't made any progress. Yes or no?" he said at a rally earlier this month.

He has also decried what he described as a climate of fear as political space for the opposition shrinks, with the ruling coalition holding every seat in the National Assembly.

On the campaign trail, many prospective voters spoke of the presidential election as a formality and urged Wadagni to deliver on his platform.

“Once President Romuald Wadagni is at the head of this country, I would like him to promote and help young people to find work because we have many young graduates on the streets driving 'zem'," said 34-year-old teacher Marcel Sovi, using a local slang word for motorcycle taxis.

Christelle Tessi, a 40-year-old trader, said Wadagni should focus on improving security in the north, where al Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin killed 54 Benin soldiers nL8N3R12O6 in one attack a year ago and another 15 in an attack last month.

"If a soldier goes there on a mission, it is his body that comes back," she said.

"We beg him to fight against these bandits so that peace may reign in our country." REUTERS