It was a meeting that had sparked so much hope among activists of the opposition party, Les Démocrates. Last Friday, October 24th, Boni Yayi went to the Presidential Palace in Cotonou to meet with his successor, Patrice Talon. The main topic of discussion between the two men was the Electoral Commission's rejection of the applications of the opposition party's two candidates for the 2026 presidential election.

Boni Yayi asked his younger brother to "do everything possible to ensure the participation of Democrats" in the upcoming elections. He was not heeded.

Talon is "gradually abandoning the goal of making Benin a state of law and democracy."

That's not what he claims in a video posted on his party's YouTube channel yesterday, Wednesday. According to Boni Yayi, the occupant of the Marina Palace is pursuing a strategy of eliminating the opposition.

“From our discussions with President Talon, I understand that he is gradually abandoning the goal of making Benin a state governed by the rule of law and democracy, committed to respecting fundamental rights, public freedoms, human dignity, and justice… From my conversation with President Talon, I understand that, according to him, everyone must be part of the movement, around him. According to him, there is no more democracy, no more opposition in Benin,” declared the former Beninese head of state.

He even suggested that there was currently a "vast plan to destabilize and poach a number of senior officials and members of parliament from the Democrats party for the benefit of the movement, based on intimidation, promises of financial incentives and threats of all kinds."

Through the implementation of this plan, the president is expressing his desire to eliminate the opposition, the Les Démocrates party, and to destroy our democratic system,” the former leader charged. Reading between the lines, it is clear that Boni Yayi holds the regime responsible for his party's exclusion from the 2026 presidential race.