President Patrice Talon convened his final Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Palais de la Marina, marking the end of his presidential mandate. President-elect Romuald Wadagni also attended the session, which was the last government meeting before the scheduled transition on May 24. Addressing his cabinet, President Talon stated, "I would like to ask you to forgive all the difficulties you may have experienced due to my character. This is simply linked to my desire to go as far as possible." President-elect Wadagni affirmed continuity, declaring, "The work of national transformation that has begun will be pursued with the same demand for quality."
Reflections on Governance
President Patrice Talon expressed gratitude to his ministers for their dedication to the reforms implemented since 2016. Mr. Talon, who was initially elected in 2016 and secured re-election in 2021, reflected on his tenure during the meeting. He stated, "I would like to ask you to forgive all the difficulties you may have experienced due to my character. This is simply linked to my desire to go as far as possible." His remarks came as he prepared to conclude his presidential mandate, which began with his first election victory. The outgoing president emphasized the collective effort in advancing the country's reform agenda over the past years.
Continuity and Future Plans
President-elect Romuald Wadagni is scheduled to take the oath of office on May 24, 2026, at the Palais des Congrès of Cotonou. Mr. Wadagni praised the work accomplished by his predecessor, President Patrice Talon, over the last decade. He affirmed the commitment to ongoing national development initiatives. Mr. Wadagni stated in French, "L’œuvre de transformation nationale entamée sera poursuivie avec la même exigence de qualité," which translates to, "The work of national transformation that has begun will be pursued with the same demand for quality." This statement from the President-elect showed the intention to maintain the trajectory of reforms initiated during President Talon's tenure.
The Handover Ceremony
The handover ceremony between outgoing President Patrice Talon and President-elect Romuald Wadagni is scheduled for May 24, 2026. During the final Council of Ministers meeting, President Talon addressed his cabinet, stating, "Je voudrais vous prier de faire grâce de toutes les peines que vous avez pu subir par mon caractère. C’est simplement lié à ma volonté d’aller le plus loin possible." President-elect Wadagni, who is set to assume office, affirmed his commitment to continuity. Mr. Wadagni declared, "L’œuvre de transformation nationale entamée sera poursuivie avec la même exigence de qualité," indicating the new administration's intention to maintain the reform agenda.
Words of Farewell and Promise
Outgoing President Patrice Talon acknowledged that he had sometimes shown great firmness in following public matters. He told his cabinet, "Je voudrais vous prier de faire grâce de toutes les peines que vous avez pu subir par mon caractère. C’est simplement lié à ma volonté d’aller le plus loin possible," which translates to, "I would like to ask you to forgive all the difficulties you may have experienced due to my character. This is simply linked to my desire to go as far as possible." President-elect Romuald Wadagni indicated that projects initiated in several sectors would be continued under his mandate. Mr. Wadagni declared, "L’œuvre de transformation nationale entamée sera poursuivie avec la même exigence de qualité," meaning, "The work of national transformation that has begun will be pursued with the same demand for quality."
