RismadarVoice Reporters
January 11, 2026
Voters in Benin went to the polls on Sunday for parliamentary and local elections held just weeks after a failed coup attempt that rattled the West African nation, with President Patrice Talon’s ruling coalition expected to further consolidate its grip on power.
The elections come barely a month after a deadly coup attempt by mutinous soldiers on December 7, whiny
Ll was swiftly quelled by the military with support from Nigeria and France.
Polling stations opened at 7:00am local time (0600 GMT), with calm reported across the streets of the economic capital, Cotonou.
“I’m coming to vote early so I don’t have to deal with the midday crowds after church,” said Adeline Sonon, a 32-year-old restaurateur, after casting her ballot.
Sunday’s single-round legislative elections will determine the composition of Benin’s 109-member National Assembly. President Talon’s three-party ruling coalition is seeking to strengthen its existing majority of 81 seats.
The main opposition party, The Democrats, is contesting only the parliamentary elections, having been barred from participating in the local polls.
Analysts say the party risks losing its current 28 seats, citing Benin’s electoral law, which requires parties to secure support from at least 20 per cent of registered voters in each of the country’s 24 voting districts to qualify for parliamentary representation.
The campaign period was largely subdued, with no major rallies held.
Most political parties relied instead on grassroots outreach, including door-to-door canvassing.
Chairman of Benin’s electoral commission (CENA), Sacca Lafia, assured voters of a credible process.
“All measures have been taken to guarantee a free, transparent and secure vote. No political ambition can justify violence or endanger national unity,” Lafia said on Saturday.
The legislative elections are seen as a key indicator of Benin’s political direction ahead of presidential polls scheduled for April.
President Talon, 67, who is nearing the end of his second five-year term, is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election.
However, his preferred successor, Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is widely regarded as the frontrunner.
While Talon has overseen significant economic growth during his nearly decade-long tenure, critics accuse his administration of shrinking political space, curtailing civil liberties.
Voting is scheduled to close at 5:00pm local time (0400 GMT), with results expected in the coming days.
