Overview
- Wadagni was sworn in on Sunday, May 24, 2026, and used his inaugural address to promise job creation, expanded basic services and firmer action against jihadist spillover from the Sahel.
- He won the April 12 election with more than 94% of the vote and had his victory confirmed by the Constitutional Court.
- A constitutional reform last year extended the presidential term to seven years, giving Wadagni a seven‑year mandate as he succeeds Patrice Talon after two terms.
- Hours after the inauguration he named a 24‑member government and put defence and security directly under his authority, signalling an immediate focus on northern violence and border cooperation.
- Wadagni’s decade as finance minister earned him credibility for cutting the deficit to roughly 3% of GDP, but a weakened main opposition and a December coup attempt raise questions about political competitiveness and the challenge of translating macroeconomic gains into everyday improvements.