Benin is on the cusp of a major milestone in its institutional history. On Friday, July 24, members of the country’s newly formed Senate gathered at the Sofitel Hôtel de Cotonou for a closed-door meeting that lasted nearly two hours. The focus was on finalizing protocol and organizational matters ahead of the official installation ceremony scheduled for Thursday, July 30, at the Palais des Gouverneurs in Porto-Novo.
Autonomy of the Chamber
The absence of the elder statesman, President Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo, was noted, as he had initiated the convocation. However, it was Me Robert Dossou, the former president of the bar association, who led the session. He emphasized that ‘it is the chamber itself that will prepare its installation on the principle of separation of powers. If we let the Executive prepare our installation, that’s not right,’ he said.
23 Senators Attend
Of the 25 members summoned to form this new institution resulting from the constitutional revision, 23 senators attended the meeting.
Patricial Talon and Thomas Boni Yayi Unite
The event was marked by a powerful symbolic image: the simultaneous presence of former Presidents Patrice Talon and Thomas Boni Yayi, seated together alongside prominent figures in Beninese politics.