Pan-African Activist Kémi Séba Announces His Candidacy for Benin’s 2026 Presidential Elections

Prominent Pan-African activist Kémi Séba has officially declared his candidacy for Benin’s April 2026 presidential election in a ten-minute video broadcast on his social media accounts on January 5.

Séba presented a scathing critique of incumbent President Patrice Talon’s governance, accusing him of perpetuating economic inequality and favouring foreign interests over local businesses.

Benin is experiencing an unprecedented social crisis, one that benefits the wealthiest while the majority of the population endures unthinkable conditions,” Séba said, decrying what he described as the systemic marginalisation of Beninese economic operators.

He accused Talon’s administration of overburdening local businesses with taxes while granting extensive exemptions to Western companies, particularly French corporations, which he claims dominate Benin’s economy.

However, Benin’s electoral code requires presidential candidates to be affiliated with a political party and sponsored by at least 28 elected officials. These stipulations have sparked criticism from opposition figures, including Séba, who labelled the system “corrupt” and designed to suppress genuine opposition.

In his speech, he outlined three potential strategies to overcome these barriers. He noted that first, there would be support from the opposition party Les Démocrates: Séba hopes the party, led by former President Boni Yayi, will nominate him as their candidate. Les Démocrates currently holds sufficient sponsorships to secure a spot on the ballot.

In the event Les Démocrates decline, Séba proposes forming a coalition to campaign for revising the electoral code, which he argues unfairly excludes independent candidates. As a final option, Séba plans a three-pronged strategy combining grassroots mobilisation, widespread protests, and leveraging allies within Benin to challenge the existing political system.

Our mission is to free Benin from external domination and systemic inequality. Free Benin or death, we will win,” he declared, ending his address.

Séba, a staunch critic of African neo-colonialism, has gained international attention for his Pan-Africanist rhetoric and activism. In October 2024, he was arrested in France for “foreign interference” and “intelligence sharing” to incite hostility against France.

Although released without charges, French prosecutors have continued preliminary investigations. Séba, stripped of his French nationality, has remained defiant, emphasising his commitment to challenging Western influence in Africa.

Benin is set to hold municipal, legislative, and presidential elections in 2026, with presidential candidacy submissions scheduled for October 2025. President Patrice Talon, completing his second and final term, has reiterated his intention not to seek constitutional amendments to extend his tenure.

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