Benin: Suspension of Gratien Ahouanmenou, member of the DEN of UP le Renouveau

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The Progressive Union Renewal, one of the major political parties on the Beninese scene, has just suspended one of its influential members. In a decision signed on June 18, 2025, the party’s president, Joseph Djogbénou, announced the provisional suspension of Gratien-Laurent Ahouanmenou, a member of the National Executive Board, for breach of the party’s statutes.

This decision follows several public and media outings by Mr. Ahouanmenou, in which he continues to display his attachment to the PRD party of Me Adrien Houngbédji.

A stance judged incompatible with his current responsibilities within the UP Renewal, notably with respect to Article 41 of the party’s statutes, which requires members to defend the image of the political formation and respect its guidelines in their public interventions.

On the demand for an explanation

According to the decision, despite an official request for explanation addressed on June 13, 2025, and his response dated June 17, the party’s leaders believe that the individual in question persists in a logic contrary to the values and decisions of the UP-R. This attitude constitutes, according to Article 121 of the party’s statutes, a serious offense, justifying a preventative suspension pending a disciplinary procedure.

According to the statement consulted by BENIN WEB TV, “comrade Ahouanmenou” is thus temporarily removed from his duties within the National Executive Board. The decision, which takes immediate effect, has been notified to the person concerned and transmitted to the competent bodies for possible additional sanctions.

This suspension comes in a tense political context, as the Progressive Union Renewal seeks to tighten its ranks and assert its internal cohesion a few months away from future electoral challenges.

The situation deserves attention, as the following will depend on the conclusions of the disciplinary procedure announced in the same decision.