“I urge you to convene a national assembly,” Nadine Okoumassoun writes to Patrice Talon
Nadine Okoumassoun, a political activist and member of the Democratic party, sent a letter to President Patrice Talon on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, asking him to initiate national discussions aimed at restoring peace and guaranteeing inclusive elections in 2026.
SUMMARY
In an open letter made public, Nadine Okoumassoun, a well-known political activist for her firm opposition to the current regime, addresses the head of the Beninese state, Patrice Talon.
The substance of this letter, a copy of which BENIN WEB TV received, is the urgent need for a national dialogue to avert, according to her, an escalation of the political and social crisis the country is undergoing.
For more than nine years, Nadine Okoumassoun has been criticizing the governance of President Talon, whom she accuses of having established “a policy of exclusion” and a “climate of fear”. She particularly condemns the existence of political prisoners and exiles, consequences, she says, of electoral reforms implemented since 2019.
In her letter, Nadine Okoumassoun reflects on her own imprisonment in 2021. She revealed having rubbed shoulders with women who were arbitrarily arrested, strangers to any political logic. According to her, this experience reinforces her commitment today for “a governance suited to realities” and “a national policy of hope”.
Call for the organization of national discussions
The activist also draws attention to the current electoral law, which she deems “a harbinger of violence” and “contrary to the sovereignty of the Beninese people”.
The activist took advantage of this letter to urge President Patrice Talon to listen to the citizens’ voices and to organize national talks, a real dialogue framework to ease tensions and build a more inclusive political future.
I exhort you to convene national discussions. The time has come for Beninese people to come together, to dialogue, and to reshape a governance suited to our realities, driven by a common will and centered on the human.
Nevertheless, Nadine Okoumassoun praises the recent statements by President Talon about his wish to unite the political forces to solve the problems of the Beninese people. “Our country needs a collective surge. It is time to rebuild a national policy that restores hope to all sectors of national life”, she wished.
The activist hopes that her call will be heard, pointing out that it is still possible to “leave the country in peace” at the end of his term.
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