Overview
- Benin’s national electoral commission (CENA), which released provisional tallies overnight Monday to Tuesday, put Romuald Wadagni at 94.05% with about 90% of ballots counted, with final certification due from the Constitutional Court.
- Paul Hounkpè, the sole challenger, acknowledged Wadagni’s lead on Monday and sent his congratulations.
- CENA reported 58.75% turnout, with participation described as low in the main cities of Cotonou and Porto-Novo and stronger in rural areas.
- Observer findings diverged, as ECOWAS praised a peaceful, well-run vote while civil-society monitors cited problems such as polling stations opening early and reports of ballot boxes pre-filled before voting began.
- The incoming president faces a growing jihadist threat in the north and concerns over curtailed public freedoms, even as his decade at the finance ministry drew investor confidence through rapid growth and a deficit reduced to about 3% of GDP.