Benin: government reacts to Boni Yayi’s media appearance
Former president Boni Yayi, weakened by the internal storm rocking his party Les Démocrates after their exclusion from the presidential race, broke his silence on Wednesday, October 29. In a message addressed to the Beninese people, he denounced an authoritarian drift by the authorities, saying that Benin “is gradually turning its back on democracy”.
Former president Boni Yayi broke his silence on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 to share with the Beninese the main points to take away from the exchanges he had with President Patrice Talon. In his statement, the leader of the party Les Démocrates said that his successor at the Marina Palace no longer wants to hear about the opposition in Benin. According to him, a plan to destabilize his political party is reportedly underway amid threats…
But the government’s response was not long in coming. On the airwaves of Bip Radio, government spokesperson Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji firmly rebuked the former head of state.
“It’s appalling. He refuses to take responsibility for the crisis rocking his party, despite criticism from many senior figures about his management. But unsurprisingly, it’s classic ostrich politics in all its glory,” the spokesperson said.
According to Léandre Wilfried Houngbédji, Boni Yayi is trying to divert attention from the internal tensions that are undermining Les Démocrates, preferring to accuse the authorities rather than admit his own leadership mistakes.
Recall that the party of former president Boni Yayi has already been sidelined from the race for the April 2026 presidential election. The party is preparing for the municipal and legislative elections while hoping that their dossier will pass the scrutiny of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENA).
Comments