Benin: Daniel Edah calls on Talon and Yayi to hold a national dialogue to ease political tensions

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He also appeals to the responsibility of the entire political class, including that of former President Boni Yayi, to pull the country out of what he describes as a “climate of mistrust and polarization”.

In his proposal addressed to the head of state, Daniel Edah says he watched closely the televised interview of November 4 during which Patrice Talon acknowledged the existence of a deep dispute between him and his predecessor. A dispute which, according to Edah, “seriously harms Benin’s political and social life”.

The former candidate believes that several reforms undertaken under the current regime appear to have been influenced by this rivalry, and that their implementation, far from uniting, has deepened political divides. He specifically cites the reform of the party system and the electoral code, whose limitations are showing up in the preparation for the 2026 elections.

According to him, the postponement of the deadline for submitting candidacies for the legislative elections, the difficulty for a party to single-handedly gather the 20% of votes required in each constituency, and the absence of the main opposition party from the presidential race are signs of an “unbalanced and unfair” electoral system.

Daniel Edah nevertheless welcomes what he sees as a turning point in Patrice Talon’s stance. He speaks of “an awakening” on the part of the head of state who, by expressing his wish to withdraw from the political scene at the same time as Boni Yayi, shows, in his view, a desire for conciliation.

“Any action, even prompted by good intentions, becomes unbearable when it rests on resentment or revenge,” he writes.

In the face of this tense context, Daniel Edah calls for the suspension of the electoral process and the proposed constitutional revision, arguing that lasting calm can only come through consultation.

He calls for an inclusive national dialogue, bringing together all political and social forces, not to judge the actors, but to “restore trust, guarantee the fairness of the electoral process and prevent governance based on exclusion”.

In his appeal, he also invites CEDEAO, the African Union and Benin’s bilateral partners – including Nigeria, France, the United States, Germany and the Netherlands – to support this initiative for the stability of the country and the Gulf of Guinea.

Daniel Edah concludes his message on a note of unity: “Benin has always managed to overcome trials through dialogue and consultation. At this crucial moment in our history, it is imperative that the supreme interest of the Nation prevail over any personal or partisan consideration.”