Benin: 48 hours after the meeting between Patrice Talon and Boni Yayi, questions arise

48 hours after his meeting with Boni Yayi, will President Talon (photo) make a gesture?

Etienne LAURENT / POOL / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

After the surprise meeting between the head of state of Benin and his predecessor Boni Yayi, two cold political enemies for five years, the Beninese are waiting for the rest.

At the end of the closed session, Patrice Talon did not respond publicly to the relaxation measures proposed by his visitor in front of the cameras.

Forty-eight hours later, questions arise.

Is President Talon going to make a move, how far can he go and what is his schedule?

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Cotonou,

Jean-Luc Aplogan

One of President Talon's relatives refers us to one of the statements of his leader, made in the stronghold of the opponent Komi Koutche, on November 20, 2020.

Patrice Talon, then on a national tour, responded to the public who demanded the return to the country of his champion in exile: “

You must answer to justice for what you are accused of, you can be cleared or condemned, forgiveness will come later.

The power that our Constitution has given me is to pardon when I can pardon

”.

► 

To read also:

Benin: towards a political appeasement after the meeting between Patrice Talon and Boni Yayi?

A renewed contact

Decryption: if President Talon is still in this logic, his pardon will come after the trials of the detainees for whom Boni Yayi pleaded.

He has two occasions to do this, on the occasion of the New Year or the Independence Day.

Yayi Boni, wants a quick relaxation, he says that Patrice Talon has the means and the power to go quickly.

The two men will certainly see each other again, contact is re-established, they spoke on the phone in mid-August, reports a confidence.

An informed source says that the historic meeting is owed to children Lionel Talon and Chabi Yayi, and not to a foreign facilitator.

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Benign

• Patrice Talon

• Thomas Boni Yayi