Bénin: Pan-African advocate Kémi Séba pursues highest office

Stellio Gilles Robert Capo-Chichi, more widely known as Kémi Séba, has announced his intention to run in Benin’s presidential election set for April 2026. The well-known Pan-African activist issued a pointed critique of President Patrice Talon’s administration in a recent video message, accusing the incumbent President of disadvantaging domestic businesses while granting considerable benefits to foreign enterprises.

Kémi Séba faces significant legal and political obstacles due to Benin’s electoral code, which requires presidential hopefuls to secure endorsements from at least 28 elected officials. Independent candidacies are prohibited, compelling him to consider several strategies. His first option is to enlist support from Les Démocrates, an opposition party headed by former President Boni Yayi, which already possesses enough endorsements to back a candidate.

If that approach proves unsuccessful, Séba intends to build a broad coalition to demand reforms to an electoral framework he deems corrupt and exclusionary. Failing both, he plans to launch “Operation Jericho,” a plan that unites widespread demonstrations, popular activism, and decisive interventions by key stakeholders in order to shift power dynamics toward ordinary citizens.

All prospective presidential candidates in Benin must submit their applications by October 2025, six months prior to the election. President Talon, who is serving his second and final constitutional term, has repeatedly stated his opposition to any constitutional amendments that would extend his tenure. Séba’s campaign therefore stands as one of the most prominent challenges to Benin’s current political landscape.