rki.news | Sources Xinhua
COTONOU, May 24 — Romuald Wadagni was sworn in on Sunday as President of Benin at the Congress Palace in Cotonou after winning the April 12 election.
The ceremony was attended by more than 6,000 guests, including heads of state institutions, members of constitutional bodies, former presidents Nicéphore Soglo and Thomas Boni Yayi, and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Benin.
Before Constitutional Court President Dorothé Sossa, Wadagni pledged to serve and defend Benin during his seven-year term. He vowed to respect the Constitution, faithfully discharge his duties, and promote the common good, peace, and national unity.
He also pledged to safeguard national territorial integrity and act as a loyal servant of the people.
Under Benin’s Constitution, the president holds executive power, determines national policy, oversees the administration and armed forces, and is responsible for national defense. The president appoints and may dismiss government members after consultation with the National Assembly.
Wadagni, 49, is Benin’s fifth president since the democratic transition of 1990. A former Deloitte executive, he joined government in 2016 under President Patrice Talon and later served as minister of economy and finance, playing a key role in economic reforms.