By Abiola Olawale
The Republic of Benin has officially extended the presidential term from five to seven years.
This change, passed through the National Assembly, comes amid broader constitutional reforms.
The extension of the presidential mandate from the current two five-year terms to what is effectively a longer two-term limit is one of the most substantial amendments to the constitution since the country’s transition to democracy in the early 1990s.
Lawmakers in the Benin Republic approved a constitutional amendment on Friday, extending the presidential term to seven years.
In an overwhelming 90-19 vote, the new amendment sets the presidential term at seven years, renewable only once, according to a statement issued Saturday by the national assembly.
“From now on, and in accordance with amended Article 42, the President of the Republic is elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of 07 years renewable only once,” the statement reads.
“No one can, in his lifetime, exercise more than two terms as President of the Republic.”
The seven-year term extension was also granted to mayors and municipal councillors.
The amendments come ahead of the 2026 presidential elections in the French-speaking West African nation.
President Patrice Talon, who has been in office since 2016, is currently serving his second term.
Talon has publicly stated that he will not seek a third term.
