Benin's main opposition party, Les Démocrates, convened an extraordinary national council meeting on September 26, 2026, in Cotonou. The primary objective was to finalize preparations for the party's 2nd ordinary congress, scheduled for October 10-11, 2026, in Porto-Novo. According to party president Nourénou Achadé, the congress aims to ensure the party's continuity and demonstrate its commitment to institutional processes.
The council meeting addressed three key agenda items: adopting the congress's internal regulations, finalizing the agenda, and providing basic structures with draft amendments to the party's statutes and internal regulations. Achadé emphasized that this process is crucial for the party's legal survival. The current mandates of party instances, elected in October 2023, expire on October 14, 2026, necessitating the renewal of these instances before this deadline.
The decision to hold the congress on October 10-11 was confirmed, along with the venue, Porto-Novo. The party's Secretary Administrative, Kamar Ouassagari, detailed the decisions made during the council meeting. A committee has been established to oversee the organization of the congress. Regarding amendments to the party's fundamental texts, the party asserts that it is adhering strictly to its own rules.
According to Ouassagari, draft amendments must be submitted to the Coordination nationale at least one month before the congress, and proposals must be sent to congress members at least a week prior. A committee, set up by President Achadé, has worked on revising the texts and made them available well before the congress. All documents were distributed to council members, who are also congress members, on September 26.
The upcoming congress will bring together representatives from communal sections, electoral districts, and members of the Coordination nationale. Beyond the technical aspects, Achadé conveyed two key political messages. He stressed that economic and social concerns remain a priority and called on the government to ensure that announced measures have a tangible impact.
On the issue of Aspirants au Métier d’Enseignant (AME), the party acknowledged the recent agreement and expressed its commitment to monitoring the situation. Internally, Achadé highlighted the success of the party's grassroots mobilization efforts, demonstrating that Les Démocrates remain deeply rooted in Benin's society despite attempts to undermine the party.
The party president invited all congress members to arrive in Porto-Novo by 8:00 AM on October 10 to welcome foreign delegations. With this congress, Les Démocrates aim to reaffirm their presence in Benin's political landscape and demonstrate their commitment to democratic processes. The party's actions reflect its determination to maintain a strong and organized opposition in the country.
Key points
- Les Démocrates, Benin's main opposition party, is holding an extraordinary council meeting to prepare for its 2nd ordinary congress.
- The party aims to finalize preparations for the congress, scheduled for October 10-11, 2026, in Porto-Novo.
- The congress seeks to ensure the party's continuity, demonstrate its commitment to institutional processes, and address key issues affecting Benin.
