Benin’s president Patrice Talon (L) shakes hands with the Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou during the swearing-in ceremony in Porto-Novo, the political capital of Benin.
Patrice Talon was sworn in as Benin’s president before a large crowd on Wednesday, completing another peaceful transfer of power in the West African country.
The businessman told the crowd of about 20,000 in the capital, Porto-Novo that he would foster economic development and fight corruption and terrorism.
He also renewed a promise to step down after only one term. Although Benin allows its leader to serve two terms, Talon voiced concern that 10 years in office may leave leaders complacent, and said he will work to limit future presidents to one term as well.
“My mandate will be a mandate of rupture, transition and reforms,” said Talon, adding that he would strive to combat corruption, improve the economy and fight terrorism.
“I will make diplomacy an instrument of cooperation for development,” he told the crowd. “With my term I will exercise state power with dignity and simplicity”.
Talon also promised to serve “as the president with humility, selflessness and sacrifice for the welfare of all.”
Benin already contributes to a multinational task force fighting Boko Haram, a militant group that is based in the northeast of the country’s giant neighbour Nigeria.
Zinsou was the preferred choice of most of Beninese lawmakers and the former president Thomas Boni Yayi, who stepped down after 10 years in power.
The vote was hailed as a victory for democracy in a continent, consolidating the democratic success the world witnessed in West African sub-region, Nigeria in 2015.
