Patrice Talon

Talon is of Fon origin and was born in Ouidah. He descends from slave traders.{{cite news|last1=Sieff|first1=Kevin|title=An African country reckons with its history of selling slaves|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/an-african-country-reckons-with-its-history-of-selling-slaves/2018/01/29/5234f5aa-ff9a-11e7-86b9-8908743c79dd_story.html|access-date=February 2, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 29, 2018|quote=In the 2016 presidential election, one candidate, Lionel Zinsou, angrily pointed out in a televised debate that his opponent, Patrice Talon, who is now president of Benin, was the descendant of slave merchants.}} His father was from Ouidah while his mother came from a Guédégbé family in Abomey. He obtained a baccalaureate in Dakar, Senegal.{{cite book|last=Macmillan|first=Palgrave|date=28 February 2017|title=The Statesman's Yearbook 2017: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PBs9DgAAQBAJ&q=Patrice+Talon+born&pg=PA210|publisher=Springer|page=210|isbn=978-1-349-68398-7}} After obtaining a "C" grade in his bachelor's degree in science at the University of Dakar, he was transferred to the École nationale de l'aviation civile in Paris. With dreams of becoming a pilot, Talon failed a medical test and this dream became impossible.{{cite news|last=Agon|first=Benjamin|title=Patrice Talon: from self-made tycoon to new African leader|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/681618/patrice-talon-from-self-made-tycoon-to-new-african-leader.html|agency=Agence France-Presse|work=ModernGhana|date=21 March 2016|access-date=14 September 2024}}

In 1983, Talon became involved in trading packaging and agricultural inputs. In 1985, he returned to Benin and established the Intercontinental Distribution Company (Société Distribution Intercontinentale; SDI), which supplies agricultural inputs to cotton producers. In 1990, after recommendations by the World Bank to liberalize economies in West African countries, Benin was called upon to withdraw from the cotton production chain. Talon then won the chance to establish three cotton ginning factories in Benin.{{cite web|url=http://lautrefraternite.com/2016/03/31/biographie-de-patrice-a-g-talon/|title=Accueil BIOGRAPHIE DE PATRICE A.G.TALON [BIOGRAPHY OF PATRICE A. G. TALON]|lang=fr|date=31 March 2016|access-date=14 September 2024}} He was also known as the "King of Cotton" for his involvement in the cotton industry. He built his empire due to connections with the Beninese political class.{{cite news|last=Adida|first=Claire|title=Benin has a new president: Patrice Talon, an ironic outsider politician|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/04/13/benin-has-a-new-president-patrice-talon-an-ironic-outsider-politician/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=13 April 2016|access-date=29 September 2016}}

Talon was one of President Thomas Boni Yayi's chief financial backers, financing his campaigns in the 2006 and 2011 elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20160308-benin-second-round-presidential-election-zinsou-talon|title=Benin heading for presidential run-off vote|agency=France 24|date=8 March 2016|access-date=14 September 2024}} His company, Benin Control, acquired two nationally owned enterprises, Sodeco in 2009 and PVI in 2011. In 2011, Talon received management of Cotonou's imports at the Port of Cotonou. In 2012, he fled to France after he was accused of embezzling more than 18 million euros in taxes. He fell out with Boni Yayi and was accused of involvement in a plot to kill him. He was pardoned in 2014.{{cite news|url=http://en.rfi.fr/africa/20140515-benin-president-pardons-poison-plot-businessman-who-fled-france|title=Benin president pardons 'poison-plot' businessman who fled to France|agency=Radio France Internationale|date=15 May 2014|access-date=14 September 2024}} In 2015, Forbes listed Talon as sub-Saharan Africa's 15th-richest person, with wealth valued at approximately US$400 million.

Talon ran as an independent candidate in the March 2016 presidential election. He finished second to Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou of the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin in the first round of voting, but won the second round with 65% of the vote. Zinsou conceded on election night. On 25 March 2016, Talon said that he would "first and foremost tackle constitutional reform", discussing his plan to limit presidents to a single term of five years in order to combat "complacency". He also said that he planned to reduce the government from 28 to 16 members.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-benin-election-idUSKCN0WS08X|title=Newly-elected Benin president aims to reduce presidential terms|agency=Reuters|date=26 March 2016|access-date=14 September 2024}}

Talon was sworn in on 6 April 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-benin-election-idUSKCN0X31QO|title=Businessman sworn in as Benin's president|agency=Reuters|date=6 April 2016|access-date=14 September 2024}} The composition of his government was announced later that day. There was no prime minister, and two defeated presidential candidates who had backed Talon in the second round, Pascal Koupaki and Abdoulaye Bio-Tchane, were appointed to key posts, Secretary-General of the Presidency and Minister of State for Planning and Development, respectively.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/316256/politique/benin-patrice-talon-nomme-gouvernement-premier-ministre/|last=Duhem|first=Vincent|title=Bénin: Patrice Talon nomme un gouvernement sans Premier ministre|magazine=Jeune Afrique|date=6 April 2016|lang=fr}} Talon pledged to increase Benin's fortunes in five years and improve its relationship with France.{{cite news|title=Patrice Talon pledges to 'miraculously' change Benin in 5 years|url=https://www.africanews.com/2016/04/26/patrice-talon-pledges-to-turn-benin-around-in-5-years/|last=Boh|first=Elvis|access-date=14 September 2024|publisher=Africanews|date=26 August 2016}} Some of his policy goals are to reduce the power of the executive and limit presidents to single terms of five years. He appointed 22 ministers, four of which were women.{{cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/05/08/patrice-talon-veut-transformer-le-benin-en-une-immense-sarl-dont-il-serait-l-unique-actionnaire_5459603_3212.html|title=« Patrice Talon veut transformer le Bénin en une immense SARL dont il serait l'unique actionnaire »|last=Kpatindé|first=Francis|work=Le Monde|lang=fr|date=8 May 2019|access-date=14 September 2024}}

On 4 April 2017, the National Assembly failed to pass a bill that would have led to a referendum on Talon's proposal to limit presidents to a single five-year term. 63 votes in the 83-member National Assembly were required for passage, and the bill received 60 votes.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/benin-parliament-rejects-bill-aiming-to-reduce-presidential-terms-idUSKBN1762RY/|last=Sasse|first=Allegresse|title=Benin parliament rejects bill aiming to reduce presidential terms|agency=Reuters|date=5 April 2017|access-date=14 September 2024}} Talon said a few days later that he would not pursue the matter any further.{{cite news|url=http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN17B0GX-OZATP|title=Benin president abandons plan to reduce number of presidential terms|agency=Reuters|date=9 April 2017|access-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410052044/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN17B0GX-OZATP|archive-date=10 April 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/424817/politique/benin-patrice-talon-renonce-a-reforme-de-constitution/|title=Bénin: Patrice Talon renonce à la réforme de la Constitution|last=Gorwitz|first=Natacha|magazine=Jeune Afrique|date=10 April 2017|lang=fr}} He said he was saddened by the outcome of the vote but respected it because of his commitment to democracy. He declined to say whether he would stand for reelection in 2021, but eventually it became apparent that he would. Benin's democratic reputation has declined during Talon's presidency. Changes in the law mean that presidential candidates need the support of 16 members of parliament, and nearly all current MPs are members of parties that support Talon. It was predicted that Talon could be reelected unopposed.{{cite web|date=9 June 2020|title=Benin Presidential Election: April 11, 2021|url=https://21votes.com/benin-elections/|access-date=25 January 2021|website=21votes}} Ultimately, he was reelected with 86% of the vote.{{cite magazine|last1=Millecamps|first1=Matthieu|last2=Thantan|first2=Maurice|lang=fr|title=Bénin: Patrice Talon réélu dès le premier tour, selon la commission électorale|url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1154144/politique/benin-patrice-talon-reelu-des-le-premier-tour-selon-la-commission-electorale/|magazine=JueneAfrique|date=13 April 2021}}

In 2018, Sébastien Ajavon, an opponent who came third in the 2016 presidential election, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for "drug trafficking" and "forgery and fraud".{{cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2021/12/11/au-benin-la-main-lourde-de-la-justice-sur-les-opposants-politiques_6105669_3212.html|title=Au Bénin, la main lourde de la justice sur les opposants politiques|last1=Lepidi|first1=Pierre|last2=Kpatindé|first2=Francis|newspaper=Le Monde|date=11 December 2021|access-date=14 September 2024}} Several opposition figures were sentenced to heavy prison terms in December 2021. Former Minister of Justice Rekaya Madougou was sentenced to twenty years in prison for "terrorism", and the law professor Joël Aïvo to ten years for "money laundering" and "undermining state security". According to journalist and teacher Francis Kpatindé, Talon's policies have led to a decline in human rights and the right to strike.

In March 2022, Patrice Talon was appointed the new president of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) at the end of a double ECOWAS-WAEMU summit.{{cite magazine|last1=|first1=|lang=fr|title=Le président béninois Patrice Talon prend la tête de l’Uemoa «dans un esprit de réforme»|url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20220327-le-pr%C3%A9sident-b%C3%A9ninois-patrice-talon-prend-la-t%C3%AAte-de-l-uemoa-dans-un-esprit-de-r%C3%A9forme|website=rfi.fr|date=27 March 2022}}

In July 2023, after the coup d'état in neighboring Niger and the ensuing Nigerien crisis, Talon expressed support for ousted president Mohamed Bazoum and condemned the coup.{{cite news|last=Traoré|first=Amos|title=Patrice Talon sur le Niger: "la CEDEAO n'acceptera pas les Coups d'État"|trans-title=Patrice Talon on Niger: "ECOWAS will not accept Coups"|url=https://lanouvelletribune.info/2023/08/dossier-niger-patrice-talon-en-parle-officiellement/|access-date=16 August 2023|work=La Nouvelle Tribune|date=11 August 2023|lang=fr}}

In September 2024 authorities announced the discovery of a coup plot against Talon, scheduled for 27 September and led by businessman and Talon ally Olivier Boko. Former sports minister Oswald Homéky and the commander of the Republican Guard were named as co-conspirators,{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2024 |title=Benin: Prominent personalities, allies of President Talon accused of plotting coup |website=Africanews |url=https://www.africanews.com/2024/09/26/benin-prominent-personalities-allies-of-president-talon-accused-of-plotting-coup/ }} leading to the arrest of Boko and Homéky.{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2024 |title=Two men close to Benin’s president jailed after alleged coup plot |website=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/benin-coup-attempt-olivier-boko-patrice-talon-72416df1abf00c1f348e4dbf45be822b }} Both were convicted and sentenced in January 2025 to 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of 60 billion CFA francs ($95 million).{{Cite web |date=31 January 2025 |title=Benin court jails two ex-allies of president for 20 years |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250130-benin-court-jails-two-ex-allies-of-president-for-20-years |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en}}

On 23 January 2025, Talon announced that he would not seek a third presidential term.https://apanews.net/benins-talon-assures-he-is-stepping-down-in-2026/ On March 14, 2025, Patrice Talon reaffirmed that he would not run in the 2026 presidential election.{{Cite web |date=14 March 2025 |title=Au Bénin, Patrice Talon assure qu’il ne sera « pas candidat » à un troisième mandat présidentiel en 2026 |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2025/03/14/au-benin-patrice-talon-assure-qu-il-ne-sera-pas-candidat-a-un-troisieme-mandat-presidentiel-en-2026_6580935_3212.html |access-date=14 March 2025 |website=lemonde.fr |language=fr}}

Talon is married to Claudine Gbènagnon from Porto-Novo and has two children.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

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Category:1958 births

Category:Beninese businesspeople

Category:Cheikh Anta Diop University alumni

Category:Fon people

Category:Living people

Category:Beninese Roman Catholics

Category:People from Ouidah

Category:Presidents of Benin

Category:21st-century Beninese politicians