Talon supporters gather in Cotonou before Wadagni inauguration

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]The swearing in will be held at uh the Congress Hall here in Cotonou, and the city is transforming by the hours. WE SEE IT. NATIONAL COLORS ARE GOING up across the city. Security arrangements for tomorrow's inauguration are also visible. They've been made. Security forces are around, and it's extensive because dignitaries and regional heads of state are expected to arrive today and overnight. And their presence will itself be a statement ABOUT HOW THE INTERNATIONAL community is reading this transition. But, the significance of tomorrow goes beyond the ceremony. Benin arrived at this INAUGURATION HAVING RECORDED ITS HIGHEST presidential turnout in a decade, having completed a constitutional two-term limit without incident, having withstood two coup attempts in 15 MONTHS, AND HAVING DONE ALL of this as every country on its northern border sits under military rule. So, tomorrow, when Romuald Wadagni places his hand on that constitution and takes his oath of office, he does so as the elected leader of what IS NOW ONE OF THE last functioning multi-party democracies in this party of West Africa. And that oath in this neighborhood at this moment in history CARRIES A WEIGHT THAT GOES FAR BEYOND COTONOU AND PORTO-NOVO. AND WE ARE GOING TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW TO ONE of the leaders TO TELL US EXACTLY HOW SHE FEELS.

[00:01:43]WHY ARE YOU HERE?

[00:01:45]WHY ARE YOU HAVING THIS EVENT?

[00:01:46]WE ARE HERE TO SAY THANK you to our PRESIDENT PATRICE TALON FOR ALL THINGS HE HAD DONE FOR THE WOMEN in Benin. WE ARE VERY HAPPY to tell him we are not going to forget ABOUT HIM. WE LOVE HIM A LOT. WE ARE VERY HAPPY. ALL BENINESE WOMEN ARE VERY HAPPY for the things he do for the women in Benin. THANK YOU VERY SO MUCH.

[00:02:07]AS YOU HAVE HEARD, THESE ARE THE WOMEN THEY ARE GO-GETTERS OF BENIN REPUBLIC AND THEY ARE BRINGING ALL THEIR GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT PATRICE TALON AHEAD OF THE INAUGURATION TOMORROW.

[00:02:19]KATHLEEN, thank you very much. You almost fit right in there. Um, and hey, it's very impressive. We're going to continue coming to you for more updates throughout the entire day. Thank you very much, Kathleen.

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