Finally peace?

The last meeting between the two personalities to talk face to face about Benin dated back to April 18, 2016 in Abidjan in the presence of Presidents Faure Gnassingbé of Togo and Alassane Ouattara of Côte d'Ivoire. History had wanted one to pass the baton to the other at the head of the Republic of Benin. But since then the quarrels had remained.

it was expected and this meeting did take place

It lasted 50 minutes and the two personalities exchanged civilities and their joy at meeting again, at the Marina Palace, after six years and a lot of socio-political turmoil. At the end of the meeting, the two were scheduled to speak but only Boni Yayi spoke to the media.

spoke only of the Beninese people, the image of the country and the relaxation.

For Yayi, there is no deep problem between him and Talon.

He asked the incumbent president for the release of political opinion prisoners including Réckya Madougou and Professor Joël Aïvo.

He called for the end of political arrests and the return of exiles, such as Valentin Djènontin, Komi Koutché, Sébastien Ajavon, Léhady Solgo, Séverin Adjovi.

He invited the current tenant of the Marina to establish a dialogue and periodic consultation with the former presidents.

"I asked but it is President Talon who decides", concluded Boni Yayi.

a highly symbolic and educational act. And for good reason. (…) This summit meeting is salutary because it sounds like a thaw in the Beninese political atmosphere since Talon decided to unilaterally unravel the Beninese Constitution in order to assume full powers. We hope, therefore, that the meeting with Yayi Boni is only a first step that truly begins the momentum of a national reconciliation which will allow the Beninese opponents, some in exile, others in prison, to renew. unimpeded with national political life.

a real political communication operation (…).

By reaching out to his sworn enemy, he carves out the costume of a peacemaker in Benin public opinion after a long war which left no respite for his political opponents.

He thus constructs, in the public imagination, that he is not the man to go after an adversary.

The political gain from this operation is immense because it gives Talon the stature of a father of the nation who stands above the fray.

And perhaps he hopes to achieve unanimity in order to engage on the prohibited boulevard of the third term. 

Finally the peace of the brave in Benin?"

 In 50 minutes, then, here is that the 2 men who, whatever one says, imprint the political march of Benin for 15 years, decided on an armistice which can be qualified as fragile, but it is a peace brave men to salute.

And if it deepens, Benin could reconnect with certain political mores from which it had moved away and which had paled its democratic light.

We therefore await the continuation of the end of this disenchantment.

Chabi Yayi and Lionel Talon, both aged 35, did part of their studies together and meet regularly in the private sector. The latter

interceded with his father, and organized a first telephone exchange with him. At the end of August, Boni Yayi called Patrice Talon from Paris. And at the end of this first exchange, the two men agreed to set an appointment in due form for September 22.

with kindness