2023-12-21 18:04:00
Between international challenges, social policy, and investment projects, the Head of State addressed a wide range of subjects in his traditional message on the state of the nation, Thursday, December 21, to deputies in the National Assembly . Patrice Talon took stock of his government’s action over the past year and discussed the prospects for the country in different sectors.
The first 40 minutes of the presidential message were devoted to the impact of the international situation on Benin. “Insecurity in the world and in our sub-region considerably affects our daily lives”, lamented President Patrice Talon who will then reiterate his condemnation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as well as the Israel-Hamas war. On this last point, Patrice Talon declared:
“As much as we condemn the Hamas attack, we also condemn the disproportion of the Israeli response and call for an end to hostilities so that today’s tragedies do not pave the way for a more global insecurity with transgenerational transmission.”
Hand outstretched in Niger
On the African level, Patrice Talon spoke of the situation of countries having experienced coups d’état, particularly in the ECOWAS region. “The taking of power by force of arms must be condemned by every convinced democrat”, hammered Patrice Talon to reaffirm Benin’s position vis-à-vis these countries and particularly neighboring Niger. Benin hopes for a rapid restoration of relations with this country and others. Patrice Talon reveals to this effect that Beninese diplomacy “did not fail to send, discreetly and repeatedly, messages to these brother countries, notably Niger”. For the Beninese president, “there is a time to condemn, a time to demand and a time to take stock, or even take note”. He notes, however, that the conditions for a return to normal are not met, especially on the side of the putschists:
“But taking note requires that our interlocutors play their part by reassuring, by clearly expressing their intentions, but also their expectations of the international community. Which is not yet the case today. This means that the ball is definitely in the court of the de facto authorities who must provide proof of their willingness to discuss and also hear the legitimate concerns of the community to which their country belongs.”
The Head of State opened his message on the state of the nation with the international aspect. He notably reiterated his condemnation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as well as Israel’s war against Hamas. On this last point, Patrice Talon declared “As much as we condemn the… pic.twitter.com/MQJuAcUIxJ
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“Sustained social policy” in the face of “the still high cost of living”
In view of the national situation, the Head of State defended a “sustained social policy” which helps to reduce the “cost of living [qui] is still relevant”.
“Benin has distinguished itself as the country which has experienced the lowest inflation rate in our sub-region, which stands at around 3%,” said Patrice Talon.
For his second term, the president promised the Beninese to focus his actions on social issues. This commitment is reflected through various social safety net programs: health insurance, the youth inclusion project, capacity building and financing of artisans.
In addition to achievements, the president made announcements. In terms of industrialization, the Glo-Djigbé Special Economic Zone should welcome other agricultural raw materials processing units with the potential for hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
In other sectors such as education, modern agricultural high schools will finally see the light of day; in terms of digital and digitalization, the achievements will be reinforced. The work of the National Personal Identification Agency will be even more decentralized with the launch of its branches in the districts of intermediate municipalities to bring civil status services closer to the populations.
At the conclusion of his 8th message on the state of the nation, Patrice Talon invited his fellow citizens, all political tendencies combined, to recognize that the “Benin is being built without fuss, without laying the first stones, without the first groundbreaking, without inaugurations and what not”. A barely veiled political dig at his predecessor, Boni Yayi, now president of his opposition party The Democrats.
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